From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Mar 4 23:03:22 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 23:03:22 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] KLA: From Warriors to Politicians 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The following message contains news from the following news agencies: ARTA: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA/ Kosovapress: http://www.kosovapress.com/english KOSOVA (tension mounts - Ka?anik) More IDPs and Kosovars to Macedonia Ka?anik, Hani i Elezit, 4 March (ARTA) 1700CET -- Serb army forces were stationed in only one position today, in the place locals refer to as Kashan, in the northern extension of the bridge claimed mined by Serb forces. Local Albanian sources in Hani i Elezit, on the other hand, say that 13 houses were burnt when the Serb forces shelled the village of Pustenik on Tuesday, as two KLA soldiers were also claimed wounded. The border crossing point to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was frequented today. Unconfirmed sources say that around 600 Albanians from the villages of Paldenic? and Hani i Elezit, passed the border last night on foot, entering in Macedonia. No civilians are left in the villages of Pustenik, Rezhanc?, Goranc?, Seqishte and Krivenik, as well as the new neighborhood of Hani i Elezit. The Ka?anik municipal village of Gajre is also empty of inhabitants as OSCE verifiers and the UNHCR are currently working on the evacuation of the villages of Ivaj? and Kotlin?, of the same municipality. According to some evaluations, the number of internally displaced persons has reached 12 thousand. KOSOVA (repositioning - Klin?) Great presence of Serb forces Klin?, 4 March (ARTA) 1720CET-- A Serb war plane and four helicopters spent several hours hovering over the villages of Llapush? and the town of Klin? on Thursday morning. A large convoy of Serb military vehicles, including tanks, APCs, and other armored vehicles travelled through the Dollc-Kijev? road axis. A tank and tens of Serb soldiers, as the "KD" correspondent reported, were stationed in central Gllarev? at 0600CET, as three APCs were reported stationed in the village of Burim. Serb snipers, according to local sources, have now taken to their positions in ?uk? e Gllarev?s, aiming their fire against the KLA. KLA defense units, on the other hand, are in their positions, in a state of full fighting readiness. The Resnik? neighborhood of Bajraktari, was the target of Serb attacks last night, as the inhabitants of this village spent last night outdoors. The Serb police set fire to the three Albanian houses that were left undestroyed in the village of Jellovc, at around 2200CET on Wednesday. The LDK Information Commission in Klin? notified that the Serb police broke into several Albanian-owned cafes of the town, shooting in the air, looting and mistreating young Albanians. KOSOVA (situation deteriorates - Malishev?) More reinforcements and sporadic shooting Malishev?, 4 March (ARTA) 1730CET -- Serb military vehicles were seen in Orllat, which lies along the Prishtina-Pej? road, at around 0600CET on Thursday. The "Koha Ditore" correspondent reported that a tank and two twin anti-aircraft machine guns were stationed at Pishat e Llozic?s, barrels aimed against the villages of Balinc? and V?rmic?. Four tanks and a military truck then took military positions in the neighborhood of Bregu i Llozic?s, in a place called "Rrezja", targeting the villages of Llozic?s and Mleqan. There are claims that the twin anti-aircraft machine guns were engaged in sporadic shooting against the village of Balinc?. There are no reports on eventual victims. "KD" reports that four armored military helicopters made several low flights over the region the whole time through. Military vehicles, on the other hand, occupied most of the Prishtina-Pej? road through the day as the withdrawal of Serb forces, in the direction of Kijev? and Orrlat started at around 0930CET. KOSOVA (repositioning -Podujev?) Clashes and repositioning Podujev?, 4 March (ARTA) 1740CET -- Serb forces stationed in Tabet e Llapashtic?s attacked KLA positions in the village of Llapashtic? e Poshtme starting from 1100CET on Thursday, sources close to the KLA reported. There were movements and repositioning of Serb forces along most of the Podujev?-Prishtina motorway. A great concentration of Serb units was also witnessed in Lup?, at the Podujev?-K?rpimeh crossroad, as well as in the entrance of the town of Podujev?. Low flights of military planes were evidenced in the regional airspace too. KOSOVA (kd column -Janusz Bugajski) KLA: From Warriors to Politicians Janusz Bugajski 3 March 1999 The Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) is now a force to be reckoned with in the intricate complexities of Balkan and international politics. While only a year ago American administration officials naively dismissed the KLA as a renegade force of terrorists, these same "renegades" are now being invited to the corridors of power in Washington. Moreover, while just a year ago the leadership of President Ibrahim Rugova's government discounted the KLA as a serious political player, a KLA leader now heads Kosova's provisional government and the organization is in a position to make or break the internationally sponsored "interim peace accord." So what has happened in the past twelve months to warrant such a transformation? Nice guys with wild demands The KLA began as an idea for active liberation and was forged in armed struggle. Armies and states are usually born in combat. Few outside Kosova imagined that after ten years of passive resistance against the Milosevic regime, the Albanians were prepared to organize an insurgency movement under the noses of their Serbian masters. An image had been created in Allied capitals which concluded that the Albanians were "nice guys" who behaved "responsibly" despite their "wild demands" for independence. Thankfully, they were not prepared to fight for their beliefs or principles. This clearly suited Western policy makers who desperately wanted to avoid another messy war on their doorstep. If only a few dozen Kosovars were killed, tortured, or imprisoned each year by the Serbian police, this was no cause for concern and the status quo could be preserved indefinitely. These shortsighted calculations were overturned by the dramatic appearance of the KLA on the Kosova stage. The movement seemed to abide by the old Polish proverb that: "it is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." What began as an initial rag-tag assortment of self-defense units and armed squads targeting Serbian security forces quickly developed into a full-scale guerrilla movement in the wake of the Drenica massacre a year ago. Of course, some tragic mistakes were committed in the course of the armed struggle, such as trying to hold territory and assuming that Milosevic's forces were a normal "civilized" army rather than an organization that thrived on civilian massacres and mass expulsions as witnessed in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. Despite its initial shortcomings, the KLA gained important tactical lessons, combat experience, thousands of willing recruits, and an improved flow of weaponry. But above all, the movement gained prominence, stature, and symbolism as the embodiment of Albanian resistance. A growing number of policy analysts and decision makers in the West concluded that the KLA could no longer be ignored or dismissed; it had become a critical factor and essential to incorporate into the political process. The KLA proved resilient and adaptable during Milosevic's assaults and it gained a reputation among military analysts as a credible fighting force with high morale and endurance that would steadily improve with appropriate training, experience, and equipment. The US objectives Early overtures by Washington to KLA leaders developed into more intensive contacts and eventual inclusion in the Kosovar negotiating team at Rambouillet despite the opposition of Belgrade and Moscow. US objectives with regard to the KLA are now threefold. First, the movement is needed not only to sign the Rambouillet accord but also to make sure that it is honored under a protective NATO enforcement umbrella. The KLA can therefore play a role as a responsible political player as well as a viable military force. Second, the Allies are seeking to cultivate a moderate spectrum of political leaders, particularly among the younger KLA members, who can participate in the projected Kosova elections and serve competently in leadership roles. The longer-term objective is the emergence of a truly representative political elite that can serve its country and conduct the necessary process of institution building and economic reform. Third, NATO needs the KLA leadership to ensure the transformation of the guerrilla army into a viable security force for Kosova over the next three years. Unlike the Serbian army, the KLA has emerged from and is fed by the grass roots. It is not an organization imposed on the population by a dictatorial ruling clique determined to keep itself in power at all costs. It therefore has an opportunity to become a force serving the interests of democracy. During the upcoming trip to Washington, KLA leaders cannot be passive observers and mere signatories to the "peace accord." They must become active and imaginative participants in the process of transforming Kosova from an unstable entity into a secure state. The KLA can thereby help ensure that Kosova not only becomes independent but also stable and democratic. A series of priorities and objectives need to be spelled out to American officials by the KLA delegation. First, in return for its restructuring the KLA must demand a prolonged "arm and train" program from NATO forces - for both policing and security duties inside Kosova. To be effective, the force must acquire appropriate modern weaponry, transportation vehicles, communications equipment, and other supplies. Second, the KLA should petition for eventual inclusion in NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program as a territorial security force. If this is denied in the short term, then the leadership must request police and military training from the U.S. army, police forces, and National Guards units. Training programs can be conducted both within Kosova and in the United States. The heroism to be matched by responsibilities Indeed, any cooperative arrangements with NATO forces in general and American forces in particular will generate mutual trust, credibility, and inter-operability for future security tasks. Third, the KLA leaders must seek a pledge that in the event that NATO is unwilling to enforce the "peace plan" and Milosevic escalates his attacks on the civilian population, then the liberation movement will be recognized as the sole Kosova security force and will be properly armed by the Allies. This would need to happen much more rapidly and effectively than was the case with the Bosnian army during the Serbian siege. Over the coming months, the KLA will face one of two major tests. Either it will become an effective guerrilla army that will eventually eliminate Belgrade's control over Kosova or it will need to play a politically constructive role under a NATO mandate. In order to prove Kosova's readiness for independence, a pluralist political structure must be constructed as well as the rudiments of a civil society and market economy. There must be no room for military muscle in Kosovar politics or the assumption of special privileges and powers by people in or out of uniform. The heroism of the KLA fighters will have to be matched by the responsibilities of its leaders in helping to form a democratic civilian government while bringing all military units under strict civilian control. Kosova must not become a mini-Miloserbia. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/4_3_99.htm Health sector and social suport of KLA Prishtin?, 4 mar (Kosovapress) Based on up to now work of UNHCR in Kosova and in Albania, in relation with the aid that this internationl organization is obligated to offer to dhe people who are in risk because of war and ti move within in Kosova and in Albania and taking in account the last statement of UNHCR spokesman mr. Kris Janowski made in Geneva on 26.02.1999 about the so called "manoeuvre" form Serbian forces in Kosova, we are obligated to do the following reaction: First, we have to stress that we are not satisfied with dhe up to now work of UNHCR mission in Kosova and in Albania, too because till now this mission is not doing with preciseness ist duties towards thousade refugees transfered because of the war. Sccond, the fact that they are not able to distinguish the so called military "manoevure" from one destuctive attack, shows best how much they are present in the regions that are included in the war. Third, in spite the fact that all international community has been informed for the new military offensive prepared by Serbs in order to destroy KLA and to do the ethnic purification of Kosova, offensive that has alredy started but in contrary, this new Serbian offensive is considered from representatives of UNHCR as one common "manoeuvre" and that means, representatives of UNHCR are not willing to deal with dhe real situation but they are using the informations given by Serbian agencies. These kind of statements make a lot of harm to the image of this great organization and is is understood that is also cause deep indignation for Albanian population, because Albanians being part of Europe and whole world, expects and hopes that they will be supported and protected exactly by these great international orgaizotions but they do not expect that this distructive attacks taken from Serbian forces to be considered as common "manoeuvre", because by doing like this they do not realize their mission but simply they do a favor for Serbian propaganda that is anti Albanian one. In the end of this reaction we ask from the representatives of UNHCR in Kosova and in Albania to fulfil their duties with sincerity because only in this way, they will justify the aim for which this international organization is formed and we hope that these kind of statements will remain individual one and they will no bi repeated in the future. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/3_3_99.htm Tense situation in Sk?nderaj and surroundings Sk?nderaj, February 3 (Kosovapress) OSCE's Verifying Mission informed last night that serbian forces are going to try to go along the Gllogoc- Sk?nderaj road. This information has alarmed the population of this region and especially those that live along this road which have started to flee their homes for more secure places. U?K Units are in the state of high alert in order to prevent any provocation or eventual attack. Serbian forces are trying hard to complicate the situation and are searching for an excuse for any eventual offensive. Shelling continues today also Shal?, February 3 (Kosovapress) Serbian forces positioned in the villages Bukosh, Frash?r and Dolak have today started ferocious shelling using heavy artillery. Similar shelling continued all through the night, last night, and apart from material damages there are no human loses. U?K Formations from OZ of Shal? have increased their level of alert and are ready for immediate intervention. Burns asks U?K not to be provoked Malishev?, February 3 (Kosovapress) In Dragobil fo Malisheva, yesterday a meeting took place between Sokol Bashota, member of GHQ and U?K political representative, and Shawn Burns, head of KDOM. In this meeting it was discussed about the difficult situation and the Serb obstructions against OSCE verifiers in Kosova. Head of KDOM asked U?K not to fall in the, open, provocation made by Serbian forces. Mr Bashota has requested that NATO forces should react in Kosov? even before the date set for continuation of talks on Kosova, because of the latest Serbian threats and onslaughts. http://www.kosovapress.com/english/mars/4_3_99_5.htm Command of the U?K 162nd Brigade "Agim Bajrami" appeals Ka?anik, 4th of March 99 (Kosovapress) Command of the U?K 162nd Brigade "Agim Bajrami" is appealing to all people of Ka?anik, who are subject of occupation forces attack in last few days, not to leave their land and go to Maqedoni and further. There is no need for fear and panic, as U?K is the one who will not allow any more massacres to be repeated by Serb forces in these areas. Command is seeking responsibility from displaced people, to return to their homes and their land in the villages they left. Leaving our homes will only help Serb barbarians to achieve their goal, so we should not allow this to happened. Kosova is ours and it will remain ours. Our weapons, our determined struggle and blood spilled for freedom all over Kosov?, are our guarantee, continues in the appeal of the command, signed by Commander Bardhi. UNHCR should not be mislead by Serb propaganda Prishtin?, 4th of March 99 (Kosovapress) U?K Section for Health and Social Support is not satisfied with the work and effort of the UNHCR Mission in Kosov? and Shqip?ri, because is not carrying efficiently responsibilities taken upon, towards displaced people as a result of war. Recent statement made by spokesman of this international body in Geneva, Mr Chris Yanowski, who called destruction by Serb forces only ," an exorcise" by those forces, proves again that UNHCR Mission is not making serious effort to face the reality, and, is using and is satisfied with information released only by Serb propaganda machinery, continues in the reaction by U?K Section for Health and Social Support signed by co-ordinator in section for Foreign Relations, Dr Shaip Muja. Another Regional Committee of the "Homeland Calling" Fund formed Cham, 4th of March 99 (Kosovapress) Initial Committee of the "Homeland Calling" Fund organised meeting with our countryman, who live and work in Cham (Germany). Hereto, they all gave their unanimous support for Kosova Liberation Army as the only force that can liberate Kosova. Furthermore, it was stressed that it is necessary to form another Regional Committee for this Fund, so U?K can be helped in the best possible way. In this meeting Regional Committee for this Fund was formed. On the 7th of March 99, in the US, commemorative meeting dedicated to Mr Adem Jashari New York, 4th of March 99 (Kosovapress) On the first anniversary of the heroic fall of Mr Adem Jashari and all the Others who fell for freedom of our fatherland in battlefields in Kosov?, Central Fund "Homeland Calling" in US, in co-operation with some other organisations in New York and surrounding states, is organising commemorative meeting in the "Royal Regency" restaurant in Yanks (USA). Very large number of our countryman, warriors who fought in different fronts in Kosov? and others, confirmed participation. Also, teem of U?K political representatives who are expected to visit USA in days to come, confirmed participation. In this meeting there will be speech about life and life-achievements of these national heroes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 8 13:13:30 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 13:13:30 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Albanian Woman Dies in Serb Police Checkpoint 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1714 Prishtina, 8 March 1999 German Foreign Minister Fischer Meets with Kosovar Leaders in Prishtina PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - The Foreign Minister of Germany, Joschka Fischer, was expected to meet President Ibrahim Rugova and other Albanian leaders in Prishtina today (Monday) afternoon to discuss the Rambouillet Accords in the run-up to the resumption of negotiations on an interim settlement for Kosova in France next week. Meanwhile, reports said the U^K (Kosova Liberation Army) commanders were to meet today to discuss the plan, which received approval in principle by the Kosovar delegation last month. President Rugova Receives Dutch Ambassador PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Mr. Jan Piet Kleiveg de Zvan, ambassador of the Netherlands to Belgrade, to discuss the most recent developments in Kosova and the consultations of political forces on the Rambouillet Accords for Kosova in the run- up to the resumption of negotiations on an interim settlement. Rugova said the situation in Kosova continued to be grave and dangerous amidst the unrelenting Serbian military and police actions in separate parts of the country. He pressed for urgent pressure on Belgrade to bring an end to its offensive operations against the people of Kosova. Regarding the Accords negotiated last month at Rambouillet, France, President Rugova said most of the political forces and the people of Kosova approve the deal and press that its implementation, once it is concluded, be carried out by NATO troops. Serbian Forces Shell Two Hani i Elezit Villages in Southeastern Kosova Three Albanians reported wounded by Serb forces PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - Serbian forces shelled two villages of Hani i Elezit, Strazh& and Ivaj&, with heavy artillery pieces since 8 o'clock in the morning today (Monday), local LDK sources in Ka^anik said. Serbian forces have been pounding Albanian villages from their positions in locations known as "Ferina" and "Guri i Zi". Many Albanian houses have been reported in flames today amidst the continued heavy shelling by Serbian forces. The village of Pustenik was reported fired by Serbian forces from 8:40 through 9:00 CET today. A convoy of Serbian military, backed up by twenty tanks, armored vehicles and APCs, headed at 3:00 a.m. today towards the Gllobo^ic& village of Ka^anik municipality, local human rights (CDHRF) sources said. Three armored vehicles parted ways with the convoy heading to Goranc village, whereas four others in the direction of Kotlin& village. At 8:00 CET today, Serbian military troops raided five Albanian households at Gllobo^ic&, local sources reported. In the past few days, Serbian forces vandalized a number of Albanian-owned businesses in the small town of Hani i Elezit and in Se^isht& village, local LDK sources said. Meanwhile, two Albanians were shot and wounded by Serbian forces along the Kosova-FYROM border yesterday, local LDK sources in Hani i Elezit said. One of them was named as Adem Curri. He was taken to FYROM for medical treatment. The identity of the second wounded Albanian has not been made known. Meanwhile, sources told the KIC a wounded Albanian, Avni Neziri, in his mid-twenties, was brought by Serb police to the Prishtina hospital early today morning. Avni, who sustained grave wounds to the legs and the stomach, has been operated upon. The Albanian, wearing civilian clothes, was dubbed a 'terrorist' by Serb police who took him to the Prishtina hospital. Serbian Forces Shell Vushtrri and Mitrovica Villages Sunday Evening PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - Mid-evening on Sunday, Serbian military forces stationed at Bukosh and Dolak pounded with heavy artillery the villages of Pantin&, Okrashtic&, Liqej, Balinc, Oshlan, as well as a number of other Albanian settlements on the other side of the ^i^avica massif in the Vushtrri municipality, local sources said. Today (Monday) morning, Serbian forces were reported stationed in the crossroads between the villages of Novolan and Dubofc. Meanwhile, for three and a half hours on Sunday evening, Serbian forces shelled the villages of Vaganic& and Pir^, municipality of Mitrovica. Mitrovica citizens spent the night in anxiety, to the sound of artillery fire pounding Albanian villages. Sporadic fire was reported overnight. Fresh Serb troops and armor, including four tanks and five lorries, have joined the Serbian military base at Frash&r i Vog&l ('Svinjare') village of Mitrovica today. Serbian Forces Shell Albanian Villages in Podujeva Area PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - Serbian military and police forces shelled Sunday evening the villages of Godishnjak and Peran, in the northern Podujeva municipality. Meanwhile, Serbian forces resumed a heavy attack against a number of Podujeva villages at 6:00 CET today. After 10:00 there was sporadic fire, local sources said. A volatile situation has been reported in the town of Podujeva today, with a heavy police presence. At 7:45 CET, a column of Serbian forces on board 15 buses, 9 lorries and 2 APCs arrived from Serbia, heading towards capital Prishtina. A bit later, a convoy of Serb military troops and combat equipment left the Dumosh airfield near Podujeva, a Serb military base for three months now, heading to Podujeva and Lup^ directions, respectively. At least eight Albanian houses have been burned during the Serb shelling of Majac, Godishnjak, Penuh& and Buric& villages. Prishtina Neighborhood of Emshiri Sealed off by Serb Police PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - The southern Prishtina neighborhood of Emshiri was sealed off by Serb police for a second day in a row today morning, local sources said. Albanian residents of the neighborhood are being ill-treated. Police hit an Albanian, Ymer Olluri (20) with a glass full of water and caused him grave injuries in a shop. Another Albanian, Bajram Sopi, a passer-bye, was beaten up unconscious and had his jaw broken by police, local sources said. Two Serb police were killed and one wounded in an unsolved incident in the Emshiri neighborhood yesterday. Serb paramilitary police, backed up by armored vehicles, terrorized Albanians in their homes afterwards. At least 17 Albanians were reported to have suffered injuries during the Serb police crackdown against the people there yesterday. Local LDK sources publicized their names. Albanian Woman Dies in Serb Police Checkpoint PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - Mrs Naile Kalludra (56), resident of Gremnik& village of Klina, died on Saturday at a Serb police check- point at Dollc village, because police prevented her from being taken to hospital, local human rights sources claimed. The sick Naile was on her way to visit a doctor in Gjakova, together with her husband, Brahim. The man was ill-treated for two hours in the Serb police checkpoint. Naile died there, CDHRF sources said, "of pain and indignation over her husband's ill- treatment". Two Bodies Found in Gjakova Area PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - Serbian police took yesterday the body of a person to the town morgue in Gjakova. The unidentified body was found by the Gjakova - Bizhtazhin roadside. The body of a killed person was found in Rezhin& village along the Gjakova-Peja road yesterday, Serb media reported. Meanwhile, local human rights activists in Gjakova said the fate of two Albanians, Latif Arifaj, resident of Gjakova, and Rrustem Aliaj, resident of G&rgoc village, who had been abducted six weeks ago, remains unknown. Albanian Girl Wounded in Gorozhup PRISHTINA, March 8 (KIC) - A young Albanian girl, Gjyle ^unaj (15) has been reported wounded with a bullet in the village of Gorozhup, municipality of Prizren. She was staying with her uncle's when she was shot, probably from Serb positions along the Kosova-Albania border zone. She did not receive life-threatening wounds, local sources said. Kosova Information Center --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Sat Mar 13 10:56:26 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 10:56:26 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Albanian Houses in Mihaliq and Druar Burned by Serbian Forces Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com ARTA News Service: http://www.kohaditore.com/ARTA Kosova Information Center(KIC): http://www.kosova.com Radio21 (English/Albanian): http://www.radio21.net/english.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1719-A Prishtina, 13 March 1999 First Edition: 14:00 CET Two Heavy Explosions in Podujeva, Scores of Casualties Reported Early Afternoon Today Five are feared Killed, and as many as thirty wounded, according to preliminary reports reaching the KIC PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - A heavy explosion occurred in downtown Podujeva, near the town market, just past 13:00 CET today, to only be followed by a second, perhaps even more powerful, explosion ten minutes later in another part, the very center of the town, near the post office in Podujeva, 30 km north of capital Prishtina. Many casualties are feared to have resulted from the two incidents. Initial, still unconfirmed, reports say five people have been killed, and as many as thirty wounded. Besnik Shabani (20) has been confirmed as killed, whereas Shukrije Berisha (f, 30) and Jusuf Jusufi, resident of Dumnic& village, have been reported seriously wounded. Local LDK sources said the explosive device in the second detonation had been planted in a garbage container near a kiosk on the main avenue of the town of Podujeva, home to 20,000, 99 percent of whom Albanians. The wounded people have been taken to the Podujeva Health Center, but also to Prishtina. Today (Saturday) is a market-day in Podujeva. The town is packed with people on Saturdays. The marketplace, where the first explosion took place, has been blocked by Serbian forces. The OSCE KVM headquarters in Prishtina had by 14:00 CET confirmed information on five wounded people in the first explosion in Podujeva. Serbian Forces Resume Shelling Three Vushtrri Villages PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - Serbian forces have been shelling three Vushtrri villages (Balinc, Liqej and Oshlan) since eight o'clock in the morning today (Saturday), local sources said. The sound of heavy shelling can be heard in the town of Vushtrri, 25 km northwest of Prishtina, and on the eastern side of the municipality. Serbs have been pounding Albanian villages from their bases in Bukosh and Dolak. There has been no immediate word on casualties, LDK sources said late in the morning today. An extremely dangerous situation has been reported in other villages at the foot of the ^i^avica massif, on the western side of the Vushtrri municipality. The village of Brusnik was shelled last night. The Serb armor targeted mostly two Albanian family compounds, Muzaqi and Shaqiri. Last night, Serbian forces continued shelling the villages of Mihaliq, Druar and Bivolak, municipality of Vushtrri. Haki Ademi (32), resident of Druar, was shot and wounded yesterday in his native village. There has been no immediate word on possible casualties in other villages. Serbs Launch Fierce Attack against Seven Villages in Northwestern Kosova At 12:20 CET today, the shelling intensified, and ground-to-ground rockets were reported being employed by Serbian forces PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - Serbian military and paramilitary police forces launched today (Saturday) a fierce attack against the villages of Vaganic& and Verrnic&, municipality of Mitrovica, such as Galic&, Oshlan, Pantin& and Lkej of Vushtrri, and Lubavec of Skenderaj. Heavy detonations have been heard in these villages since 7:30 CET today, local LDK sources in Mitrovica said. Smoke has been billowing from these attacked villages. At 12:20 CET today, the shelling intensified, and ground-to-ground rockets were reported being employed by Serbian forces. In Vaganic& and Verrnic&, in the neighboring villages of Vushtrri, as well as in Lubavec village of Skenderaj ('Skenderaj'), heavy and small arms fire was heard also last night, from 18:00 CET on Friday through 02:00 CET on Saturday. Two dozen Serb shells landed in the village of Verrnic&, and 16 others in Lubavec last night. No casualties were reported. Serbian soldiers have been forcefully occupying or vandalizing Albanian houses in Frash&r i Vog&l village of Mitrovica, local sources said. Meanwhile, the Serbian-run District Court in Mitrovica on Friday sentenced an Albanian to 10 years in prison on trumped-up political charges. Isa Qerkinaj, resident of Obri village of Gllogovc municipality, was tried on 'association for illegal activities' charges. Albanian Houses in Mihaliq and Druar Burned by Serbian Forces PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - Serbian reinforcements have been reported moving in the direction of ^i^avica massif villages in northwestern Kosova today. Four Serb army lorries and four APCs left for Mihaliq today, whereas an army tank for Bukosh village. Several Albanian villages were reported being burned around noon in the villages of Mihaliq and Druar, whereas Grac& was being shelled by Serb forces in Be^uk. Albanian Flee Homes in Vitia Village as Serb Troops and Armor Move in PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - A convoy of Serbian military involving six tanks, twelve APCs and a lorryload was deployed today at 10:00 CET in the village of Deb&llde, municipality of Vitia, on the border area with FYROM, local LDK sources said. The Serbian army told the OSCE they would engage in training exercises there, whereas local residents were told they had gone there to "defend themselves against NATO" troops. The village would be "turned into ashes" should a single bullet be fired at the Serb forces, the Serb army warned. "You better stay inside your cellars, in case stray shells do not hit your homes", the Albanian residents were told, 500 of 720 of whom have fled their homes now, local LDK sources said. Most of them have crossed over to FYROM in search of safety. Some 3,000 Albanians Driven from their Homes in Three Ka^anik Villages PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - Over 3,000 Albanians have been driven from their homes in the villages of Bi^ec, Kova^ec and Dubrav&, municipality of Ka^anik. Most of them have found refuge in the town of Ka^anik, southeastern Kosova. Others have fled to Ferizaj. More than 250 people have been crammed into the building of "Skenderbeu" high school. Stepped up movements of Serbian forces were reported in Hani i &lezit ('General Jankovic') area yesterday. A number of people were arrested. Sabri and Mejdi S. Kova^i, residents of Kova^ec village were arrested while travelling with their car. Muharrem B. Dullovi, resident of Bi^ec, was also reported arrested yesterday. Albanian High School Student Goes Missing in Prishtina PRISHTINA, March 13 (KIC) - Bedri Beqiri (17), resident of Bajgor& e Shal&s region, now a refugee in Prishtina, a student with the "Sami Frash&ri" high school in the capital, went missing yesterday (Friday morning), the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said. The family reported the case with the OSCE KVM and the Serbian police, but no information on the fate of Bedri Beqiri could be obtained. 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 Sun Mar 14 15:17:02 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 15:17:02 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Apeal from Kosova Sot ( A Daily Kosova Newspaper) 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kosova Sot Subject: [ALBANEWS] Apeal from Kosova Sot Dear Friends, We inform you that according to the information we possess Serbian regime on March 11 raised indictment against our daily independent newspaper "Kosova Sot". According to the issued statements from the press conference of the Serbian ministry of information held on March 12 at 1300 hrs, the news was announced that our newspaper is supposed to pay the fine in accordance with the very primitive and middle age law, with an accelerated procedure and maximal fine. Editing house "Interpress R. Company" officially is supposed to pay the fine of 800.000 dinars while newspaper's publisher Ruzhdi Kadriu and Ibrahim Rexhepi, chief editor are supposed to pay 400.000 each. The total sum is 1.6 million dinars. This is a Draconian and unbearable penalty. Frankly, it means the definitive ban for our newspaper "Kosova Sot" and furthermore without our participation in court. This reminds us on middle age courts. We reiterate that the measure and the above mentioned fine for "Kosova Sot" is not spontaneous knowing from who it was issued. The daily newspaper "Kosova Sot" started being edited on September 11, 1998. It appeared with a humble number of copies from 10.000 to 12.000 copies while only after three months it come out to be the most readable newspaper in Kosova with over 35.000 printed and sold copies. At the very beginning Serbian regime was aggravated with the front page that why it was called "Kosova Sot" and not "Kosmet Sot". They were upset with our fertile and independent editorial policy but the fact that annoyed them most was the rapid increasing of the number of readers in all towns and villages of Kosova. Three days ago Serbian ministry had enough and decided in most perfidious and completely middle age manner to castigate respectively ban the daily newspaper "Kosova Sot". We did what we could until now. Now we are uncertain that Serbian regime is going tomorrow or day after tomorrow to bring the final decision on banning the newspaper. The newest current situation overcomes our capacity to face with the crisis created by Serbian regime. We pledge for your confidence, get involved and support us in any manner in order to ease or free us from this evil that is attacking our newspaper and particularly free word of the press. Prishtina We count on your support. 13 March 1999 Respectfully, Publisher and editorial staff of "KOSOVA SOT" E-mail: --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 21 03:43:15 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 03:43:15 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Kosova: Fleeing civilians spoke of summary executions on the street (fwd) 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Summareis from Reuters and AP ... _____________ Armed Serbs wearing black masks and white jumpsuits drove thousands of ethnic Albanians out of their homes in the Kosova town of Srbica on Saturday, local witnesses said. A column of refugees stretched for miles through the hills of the central Drenica region as men, women and children fled in freezing cold with only the clothes on their backs, a Reuters news team in Lausa, just west of Srbica, reported. Automatic weapons and machine-gun fire and detonations echoed from the direction of Srbica. Fleeing civilians spoke of summary executions on the street, but there was no independent confirmation of those reports. Some of the new refugees fled on foot, some in private cars and most in tractor-drawn wagons which shuttled back and forth between Lausa, the first village west of Srbica, and Vojnik, a village some 10 km (six miles) further west. ``They wore white uniforms with black masks. We didn't run away. They forced us to leave. They came at 8.30 a.m. (0730 GMT). We were sitting in our homes when they broke in and forced us to leave at gunpoint,'' said Selim Dragaj, 37. ``They said to me you can take your shoes and go to Albania. Albania is what you wanted and Albania is what you are going to get.'' The Drenica area has been a bastion of separatist ethnic Albanian guerrillas but they have been pushed back by Serbian security forces in a recent offensive, and Saturday's withdrawal of international monitors from Kosova may have been a key factor in the reported Serb assault on Srbica's inhabitants. An AP reporter saw a Yugoslav convoy heading toward the fighting. About 30 tanks, armored vehicles and trucks with anti-aircraft guns were on the move. Serbian security forces, backed by armor including tanks, blocked the highway between Kosova's capital Pristina and Belgrade. Reporters were halted by police about 10 km (six miles) north of Pristina. Tanks, armored personnel carriers (APCs) and army troops were deployed on and near the highway. Heavy small - arms fire tore through the air in the vicinity. Serbian police in battle gear backed by tanks and APCs earlier blocked a Reuters news team trying to drive north along the Glogovac-Srbica road from the Komorane highway junction in central Kosova. The corridor was believed to have been in guerrilla hands as recently as Friday. Civilians were seen fleeing shelling in the hills west of Srbica in north-central Kosova as fighting intensified in a dangerous vacuum caused by the withdrawal of international truce monitors. Yugoslav federal army troops with armor were arrayed along the main highway west of Pristina that runs through Komorane en route to Pec in the far west of Kosova. The area between Luzane and Podujevo has seen regular clashes between government troops and guerrillas since mid-December, when a Yugoslav army armored brigade moved into the area in violation of a cease-fire agreement. A buildup of government troops in the region since then has led some analysts to worry that a government offensive against suspected KLA positions in the area is about to start. Aid workers trying to go north to Belgrade from Pristina to leave the country were blocked by Saturday's fighting. Reuters reporters met some 30 ethnic Albanian refugees from the village of Poklek, outside Glogovac, about 20 km (12 miles) west of Pristina. Mostly women and children, they were trudging through the snow as shells exploded in the distance. The refugees said security forces began bombarding a nearby village at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) Saturday from the Koretica area where the Serbs were known to have armor and artillery. ``Only God knows how much we have suffered and we're still suffering now,'' said Sanije Hoxha , an elderly woman leaning wearily on a cane,. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mon Mar 22 09:58:03 1999 From: sokolrama at sprynet.com (Sokol Rama) Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 09:58:03 -0500 Subject: [kcc-news] 10 Kosova Villagers Executed Message-ID: <199903221501.KAA32200@smtp5.mindspring.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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Kosova Villagers Executed By R. Jeffrey Smith and Peter Finn Washington Post Foreign Service Monday, March 22, 1999; Page A1 SRBICA, Yugoslavia, March 21 ? Yugoslav special forces troops searching door-to-door over the weekend for supporters of ethnic Albanian separatists detained and executed 10 men here on Saturday, including a father and his four sons, witnesses said. The alleged executions ? supported by physical evidence at two locations ? were among many visible signs today of the toll of a two-day government offensive in central Kosovo. Scores of homes billowed black and gray smoke in nearly a dozen villages in the region as the fighting swelled the number of new refugees to an estimated 44,000. The primary goal of Army and Interior Ministry troops, including special forces units in white uniforms with black masks, apparently is to push the Kosovo Liberation Army and its supporters out of the Drenica region. But it remains unclear whether the action was a prelude to heavier fighting throughout Kosovo or a contained action against the KLA's heartland territory. NATO has threatened immediate airstrikes to punish atrocities or to compel the Yugoslav government to accept a Western-drafted peace accord that provides for the swift deployment of up to 28,000 NATO troops to enforce a cease-fire in Kosovo. But so far Belgrade has not given any hint that it might shift its position or refrain from targetting civilians. According to the accounts of three witnesses in Srbica, a city of 20,000 residents, special forces units on Saturday detained Ali Gashi, his four sons and three neighbors and marched the men, their hands clasped behind their heads, at gunpoint up a hill overlooking the city and then into a gully. After a 20-minute discussion among the troops, witnesses said, the men were executed. The witnesses said a unit of Interior Ministry troops removed the bodies with surgical gloves. Today, pools of blood and bits of skull and brain matter were still splashed across mud and leaves at the site. A surgical glove lay discarded near the scene. Other witnesses recounted the execution on Saturday of two other men ? Muhamed Fazlia, 29, and his cousin, Musli Fazlia, 23, ? in a nearby farmyard after special forces found them hiding in a house where relatives had sheltered them. The men and their families had fled shelling of their home village to the east of Srbica a week ago. According to three witnesses, the men were shot in their heads as they stood with their arms raised. Villagers from across the region gave accounts of harassment and beatings that indicate that the Belgrade regime's rhetoric about standing up to NATO has percolated to the lowest ranks of the military. A 16-year-old boy from the destroyed village of Lausa and an 18-year-old from Srbica who fled to Mitrovica today said they were arrested and beaten by troops at the Srbica police station. They said the troops taunted them, asking, "Where is NATO for you now? Where are your [foreign] verifiers?" The boys, among an estimated 200 men arrested in Srbica, said the troops cursed President Clinton. A KLA guerrilla officer, encountered on a highway near Srbica, said that some civilians who fled the area reported that they were told to "leave for Albania and look for Americans to protect you." A 13-year-old girl in Srbica watched as her brother and mother were beaten by soldiers who promised to "massacre you" and "burn you all." Government forces appeared to be taking casualties. One soldier said 50 soldiers had been killed in heavy fighting. Serb officials said that four Serbian policemen were shot dead in an ambush tonight in Pristina, the capital of the province. Seven villages around Srbica were shelled today and six villages that were shelled yesterday were still afire. Artillery fire echoed in the hills and smoke climbed above the emptied village of Donji Prekaz where shattered houses smoldered, their front doors ajar. The village of Polijance, at the edge of Srbica, was in flames, and tanks sat on a overlooking crest. When reporters drove toward the village, a warning shot rang out, halting them. Throughout the day, tanker trucks shuttled to and from areas of heavy fighting, refueling tanks and other armored vehicles. Interior Ministry jeeps and large cargo vans were seen leaving the area where troops had conducted house to house searches. The region has been the scene of previous ferocious fighting. Almost exactly a year ago, a military assault on the family compound of a KLA leader in Donji Prekaz helped radicalize Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population and sharply intensified the conflict. Villages in the region were burned last summer and fall before the government agreed in an October deal with NATO to withdraw its army units from villages, to reduce its Interior Ministry troops' presence and to halt the use of heavy weapons in the countryside. The current assault differs from previous fighting in one respect: Army units, which previously kept clear of some of the worst fighting in Kosovo, are now paired with Interior Ministry troops. The army's engagement appears to reflect a new and more compliant Army leadership installed by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic at the end of last year. Residents of Srbica said the army began searching houses here Saturday morning. According to witnesses, one reason eight of the men who were later shot may have been targeted was because KLA calender-posters were found in their homes. Others whose homes were searched said troops repeatedly demanded to know if they had met senior KLA officials. Police accused men in black jeans with pockets on the thighs of wearing the combat trousers favored by the KLA. About 9:30 a.m., witnesses said, the eight men who were later shot were rounded up and forced to march with their hands over their heads to a wooded area near the local hospital. Witnesses identified the men as Gashi, 54; his four sons, including 18-year-old twins; Ramiz Geci, 30; Januz Kaleci, 60, and his son. They said the men were directed to a gully. Then, about 20 minutes later, five Serbian soldiers stood on a slight incline above the gulley and shot the men. Shortly after, witnesses said, more Interior Ministry troops arrived and removed weapons from the back of a Jeep as well as a video camera. A prosecutor later arrived and the bodies were removed by a team wearing surgical gloves, the witnesses said. As one witness walked through the blood-stained grass today, he began shaking as his eyes filled with tears, and he turned away. Another witness wept as she said, "I can never forget what I saw." A third witness shook his head and said, "I knew all of them." In a second alleged execution, which occurred about 250 yards away, troops in Yugoslav special forces' white uniforms and black masks burst through the gate of a family compound of three houses about 10 a.m. Saturday, three witnesses said. They kicked in one house's front door, which shows the marks of their boots. Two soldiers ransacked the house and stole foreign currency, the witnesses said. In another house in the compound, a television set's screen had been smashed and debris was scattered. After the ransacking, two masked soldiers ordered one woman outside. "Where are the men?" they asked the woman, witnesses said. "Where are the terrorists?" They held a gun to her head and shot in the air. The woman denied there were men in the compound, witnesses said. But, in fact, five families, as well as the owners, were staying in the three houses. All five families had fled shelling outside Srbica. When the Serbs found two men, the Fazlia cousins, they forced them and an older male cousin into the yard with their hands above their heads. They returned to the woman and struck her for lying to them, witnesses said. At close range and without warning, they then shot the Fazlia cousins, said three witnesses who saw the shooting. The soldiers spared the older cousin who is in his 50s. Police forces removed the bodies within 10 minutes, the witnesses said. ? 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 From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Mar 23 18:16:52 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 18:16:52 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] News: AZERBAIJAN HAS DETAINED A RUSSIAN CARGO PLANE CARRYING FIGHTER JETS POSSIBLY DESTINED FOR YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S PETER EINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Recent Reports from Voice of America News Correspondents http://www.ibb.gov/newswire/longindex.html -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- (1) AZERBAIJAN / JETS (S) -------------------------------------------------------- DATE=3/23/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247020 TITLE=AZERBAIJAN / JETS (S) BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN DATELINE=MOSCOW wCONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AZERBAIJAN HAS DETAINED A RUSSIAN CARGO PLANE CARRYING FIGHTER JETS POSSIBLY DESTINED FOR YUGOSLAVIA. V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW. TEXT: OFFICIALS IN AZERBAIJAN'S CAPITAL, BAKU, CONFIRM THAT A RUSSIAN CARGO PLANE IS BEING HELD ON THE GROUND. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS THE PLANE ARRIVED THURSDAY FOR REFUELING, AND WAS DETAINED AFTER CUSTOMS INSPECTORS FOUND SIX MIG FIGHTER JETS ON THE AIRCRAFT. RUSSIAN AND AZERI NEWS AGENCIES REPORT THE WARPLANES ARE BEING ACCOMPANIED BY ABOUT 30 MILITARY PERSONNEL AND ENGINEERS. AZERBAIJAN'S TURAN NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE CREW ORIGINALLY TOLD CUSTOMS OFFICIALS THE FIGHTER JETS WERE BEING SHIPPED TO YUGOSLAVIA, BUT LATER SAID THEY WERE EN ROUTE TO NORTH KOREA. UNOFFICIAL SOURCES SAY THE CREW MAY BE MERCENARIES. A RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN DENIES ANY OFFICIAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE SHIPMENT, AND SAYS RUSSIA OBSERVES THE INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGO ON YUGOSLAVIA. (SIGNED) NEB/PFH/JWH 23-Mar-99 7:26 AM EST (1226 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 donalds at hrw.org Thu Mar 25 12:15:57 1999 From: donalds at hrw.org (Skye Donald) Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 17:15:57 +0000 Subject: [kcc-news] Kosovo Human Rights Flash #2 Message-ID: <199903252322.SAA22027@xmail.hrw.org> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH KOSOVO HUMAN RIGHTS FLASH #2 March 25, 1999 Human Rights Watch has confirmed that the Pristina office of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) -- one of the main political parties in Kosovo -- was burned down last night by unknown individuals. The building also houses the office of the Kosova Information Center (KIC), the news service of the LDK. Also last night, the Serbian police shot and killed the guard at the Koha Ditore newspaper office in Pristina, and then ransacked the office. Koha Ditore is the largest Albanian-language daily in Kosovo. Its publisher, Veton Surroi -- a signatory of the Rambouillet Accords -- is in hiding, as are some of the paper's staff. *** This human rights flash is an information bulletin from Human Rights Watch. It includes human rights updates on the situation in Yugoslavia generally and in Kosovo specifically. For further information contact Fred Abrahams at (212) 216-1270 or Abrahaf at hrw.org This and other information is also available on our website: http://www.hrw.org/hrw/campaigns /kosovo98 *** --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Fri Mar 26 08:55:05 1999 From: sokolrama at sprynet.com (Sokol Rama) Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 08:55:05 -0500 Subject: [kcc-news] Albanians talk of Kosova massacre Message-ID: <199903261358.IAA05718@smtp3.mindspring.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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Albanians allege Kosova massacre Albanian journalists are reporting renewed and intensified attacks against Kosova Albanians by Yugoslav forces as the Nato air strikes continued into a second night. The unconfirmed reports, said that there had been a massacre of 20 civilians in the the village of Rahovec in central Kosova . The group rounded up for execution reportedly included "intellectuals", namely teachers, and the killings were carried out by Serb paramilitary police before military units pounded the village with shells. Kosova Albanians say there has been heavy fighting west of Pristina and that 20,000 civilians were surrounded by tanks in the northern village of Qirez. But Serbian reports say the separatist Kosova Liberation Army has been using the cover of Nato strikes to launch attacks on Serbian positions. The reports came as Nato intensified its attacks on Yugoslav targets and warned President Slobodan Milosevic of continued air strikes, involving warplanes and Cruise missiles, unless he agreed to a deal over autonomy for Kosova. Speaking on Albanian television, Information Minister Musa Ulqini said the latest killings, in the villages of Goden and Zylfaj, near Dobrune on the Kosova-Albanian border, were a "terrible massacre". The minister said that 176 refugees had fled to Albania, including 96 children. "These two villages no longer exist, because they have been razed to the ground by artillery shells," he said. There has been no independent confirmation of the attacks. "Foreign correspondents in Macedonia are unable to substantiate the reports as access to Kosova is now banned. They report that the KLA has reported similar alleged alleged massacres before and have sometimes exaggerated the facts. But they add that the tone adopted by pro-Kosova journalists reporting the incidents may suggest that there is some truth to the allegations. Speaking to the BBC World Service's The World Today programme, Brussels-based Albanian journalist Ekrem Krasnici said that there had been numerous reports of fresh Serb offensives flooding from the province since the Nato air strikes began. "(The attacks) are just like 12 months ago," he said. "There is clearly an uncontrolled situation in the majority of the villages and cities in Kosova." Mr Krasnici said that foreign journalists had been concentrating on the impact of the air strikes on Serbia and were missing the equally important strand of the story that the situation could worsen in Kosova itself. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Fri Mar 26 13:54:41 1999 From: sokolrama at sprynet.com (Sokol Rama) Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 13:54:41 -0500 Subject: [kcc-news] Yugoslav troops and Serb paramilitary units are revenging on innocent civilian Albanians Message-ID: <199903261857.NAA28523@smtp0.mindspring.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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Yugoslav troops and Serb paramilitary units are revenging on innocent civilian Albanians March 26, 1999 1:54 PM ET As NATO began a third day of air attacks on Yugoslavia, there were reports of Yugoslav troops and Serb paramilitary units sweeping through villages in Kosova, killing innocent civilian Albanians and causing widespread destruction of their properties.. Yugoslav authorities have expelled journalists and diplomatic observers from several NATO member countries, but reports of massacres and widespread destruction emerged from other sources. 1. CNN and BBC report that the Serbian forces are shelling indiscriminately, especially in the northern part of Kosova. In the Drenica region, we have reports that some 20,000 civilians are encircled by tanks and Serbian forces, in the northern village of Qirez. 2. British Defense Minister George Robertson told reporters in London today that two villages across the border in Albania had been shelled by Yugoslav forces. Other ethnic Albanian villages in Kosova had been razed as well, he said. 3.U.S. intelligence officials say Serb forces are driving ethnic Albanians out of villages and rounding up prominent civilians while international observers are gone. In the provincial capital of Pristina, Veton Surroi - one of the four Kosovar Albanian signers of the peace accords - has gone into hiding. At his offices - the province's best known daily, Koha Ditore, the doorman was shot dead, 4.Human rights groups said several ethnic Albanian community leaders have been kidnapped in Kosova, and some have been killed. "The war in Kosova has now entered a new phase," said James Hooper, of the Balkan Action Council in the United States. "Serbian forces have begun to abduct and execute the professionals, the political leaders and others in a number of places throughout Kosova." 5.The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Friday that Yugoslav troops reportedly killed 20 civilians in Goden - a town in southwestern Kosova. The UNHCR, citing witnesses' accounts, said Serbian forces torched village homes, separated men from their families and executed 20 of them. The accounts came from 174 women and children who crossed into northern Albania, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski said in Geneva. "They alleged 20 of them (the men) were executed and they actually saw the bodies," Janowski said. 6.The UNHCR commission estimates about 450,000 people have fled Kosova in more than a year of fighting - roughly 25 percent of the province's pre-conflict population, NATO spokesman Jamie Shea said Friday. 7. Reuters referring to accounts of Albanian refugees displaced by force, reports that in the northern Kosova town of Mitrovica,ethnic Albanian shops and business premises had been burned by Serbian irregulars after NATO began bombing on Wednesday. "In one part of town, everything is burnt. It was like in a film," said one of the refugees. "You could see coming what is happening now in Kosova," William Walker, the head of the withdrawn international truce monitoring force for Kosovo. "It's horrible. It's about as brazen an attack on the civilian population as I've ever witnessed." 8. Reuters reports that a prominent Kosova Albanian lawyer and his two sons were shot dead by Serb police and dumped in the street in the provincial capital Pristina, according to a report from Kosovo Albanian sources. Bajram Kelmendi and his sons, aged 16 and 26, were taken by police from their home on the first night of NATO air strikes, the sources said, and the women of the family were told they would never see the men again. When Kelmendi's wife asked police the following day where her husband and sons were, she was told: "Go and ask NATO. Go look for them there." The bodies were subsequently found in a city street, the sources said. In Kosovska Mitrovica in the north, prominent unionist Agim Hajrizi was also murdered, the same sources said. 9.Kosovapress news agency reports that 30 ethnic Albanian civilians were executed and their houses burned down in Suva Reka on Thursday and Friday. The victims in the town, which is southwest of the provincial capital Pristina, included women, children and elderly people as well men, the agency said. 10. A popular cafe in the centre of Pristina was burned in a fire that swept through a restaurant district. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but the Tiffany's cafe was popular with international journalists, most of whom were ordered to leave the country on Thursday. 11.Eyewitnesses told Reuters masked paramilitaries swept the western town of Djakovica overnight, killing at least two people, one at his home which they then set alight. Buildings were burning near the post office in the centre of Djakovica on Friday morning. Paramilitary and military forces, including some units of local police in masks, also burned shops in a district known locally as Qarshia e Vogel. "People are shut up in the houses. They can't get out because they might be shot dead as happened two days ago and last night," a local aid worker told Reuters from Djakovica. 12.In another western Kosovo town, Pec, residents said that paramilitary and military forces killed a man overnight and looted several shops. 13.Paramilitary and military forces were also active in the village of Obranca, near Podujeva, northeast of the provincial capital Pristina. Residents there said 10 people had been beaten up in raids on homes. An eyewitness in Pristina said police emptied a sports store in the centre just after midnight. A supermarket was also looted. 14. The number of ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosova reached 2,370 people in Turkey on Friday. Nearly 350 Kosova residents arrived in four busses on Friday morning alone. Most of the refugees are women and children. Local authorities believe the numbers will keep growing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sat Mar 27 09:30:33 1999 From: sokolrama at sprynet.com (Sokol Rama) Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 09:30:33 -0500 Subject: [kcc-news] Serb Army Use Albanian Children and Women as Human Shields Message-ID: <199903271433.JAA14883@smtp4.mindspring.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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 27, 1999 Serb Army Use Albanian Children and Women as Human Shields >From Kosova come reports of massacres of ethnic Albanians as armed gangs of Serbs roam the streets looting, burning and killing. There have been reports of killings of Albanians and the burning of their communities throughout the province. NATO acknowledged the Serbs appeared to have stepped up ethnic slaughter in the southern province. "There is mounting evidence from a number of different sources now that terrible things are happening in Kosova," NATO spokesman Jamie Shea said. "They are simply attacking Albanians for the sake of killing Albanians, including intellectuals." 1.Several reports describe and confirm confirm that ethnic Albanians are being used as human shields. Civilians had been herded into an ammunition factory and a metal processing plant used as a depot for Serb armoured vehicles. An estimated 20,000 ethnic Albanian refugees had been moved from the Drenica region and ordered into an ammunition factory at nearby Srbica.(Reuters, AP, NY Times, Daily Telegraph, Washington Post etc.) 2.Other reports said that women and children were being held at the Ferronickel plant at Glogovac, which has been regularly used by the Serbs as a depot for heavy armoured vehicles. Civilian captives were held there last spring at the start of the Kosova civil war. To the west of Kosova, Serbs appeared to have launched a major ethnic cleansing campaign, burning villages, driving out the women, children and elderly and taking men prisoner.(NY Times, Daily Telegraph, Reuters, AP, Times etc) 3.Fifty ethnic Albanians were killed in massacres in neighbouring villages, Suva Reka and Orahovac.( Daily Telegraph, NY Times, KosovaPress, Albanian TV, etc) 4.Another report told of Serb forces murdering 20 teachers and the director of a school in front of their pupils before driving the population over the border.The 20 ethnic Albanian teachers had been executed in the village of Goden in southern Kosova. Women who escaped and trekked into Albania told refugee officials that Yugoslav forces separated men from women and children and killed the men in front of them. (UNHR, Reuters, AP, NY Times, etc.) 5.A clinic belonging to the Mother Teresa charity, was set on fire by Serb troops and paramilitary. Human Rights Watch confirmed the the burning of the Pristina warehouse of the Mother Theresa Society, the largest local humanitarian organization in Kosova. The warehouse was filled with food and medicine and the society had to suspend operations.(HRW, NY Times, Daily Telegraph etc) 6.The bodies of Bajram Kelmendi, a human rights lawyer and his two sons,Kastriot and Kushtrim, were found shot dead at a gas station between Pristina and Kosovo Polje, southwest of the capital. The lawyer and his sons were taken from their home early Thursday morning by police, according to Human Rights Watch. Kelmendi had defended many political prisoners in Kosova over the last decade and had recently defended the Albanian-language newspaper Koha Ditore, which was shut down by the police earlier this week. (NY Times, Times, W Post, Reuters, AP, KosovaPress, Albanian TV,etc) 7. More than 60 per cent of Podujevo, in northern Kosova, was razed after being hit by Yugoslav artillery fire. (The Times) 8.Serb MiG 29s targeted civilian areas in the surrounding Llap region. To the south the town of Suva Reka was being purged of Albanians, their houses left in flames. 9. A quarter in the old town of Gjakova (an ancient town near the border with Albania that is almost 100 percent ethnic Albanian) was set ablaze, while reports of men being segregated and detained are too many to list. (NY Times, W Post, Reuters, AP, KosovaPress, etc.) Serb paramilitary gangs had slaughtered several hundred ethnic Albanians in the town after NATO bombed a local barracks. "They're telling us that about 70 bodies were found in just two houses, but hundreds were killed all over town," Kosova Albanian sources in touch with the KLA guerrillas told Reuters. 10. Two Yugoslav air force MiG-29s hit the Kosova village of Berisha on Saturday. 11.In Mitrovica, 40 km (25 miles) north of Pristina, irregulars in a passing car shot dead an ethnic Albanian man, and a woman was killed when a grenade was lobbed into her garden. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 27 19:41:36 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 19:41:36 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] In Kosova, War Is Peace -V.Surroi for NY Times (fwd) 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 26, 1999 NY Times OP-ED In Kosova, War Is Peace By VETON SURROI PRISTINA, - War is a dirty thing -- that is something I knew before today. I have seen the faces of refugees in all the previous wars in the former Yugoslavia. I was aboard one of the last flights out of Croatia before the war fully exploded there in 1991. I found myself at the end of the line to board the plane: a pack of men were pushing each other to scramble aboard, oblivious to three women with small children who were being pushed farther from the stairs. This time, sitting in my office and waiting for the imminent NATO strikes on nearby Serbian positions, war does not look any better. But at least this time I know it will be shorter, because for the first time the war machine of the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, will be confronted by a vastly more powerful one -- one that may even destroy it, never to rise again. I also know that this may change the behavior of the Balkan people toward war. The inhabitants of southeastern Europe will have to face the fact that NATO has created a security umbrella over them and that the warfare of the last years -- indeed, of the past centuries throughout Europe -- will not be allowed to continue. The peace agreement that I and the other Kosovar representatives signed last week will give Kosovo a three-year period of self-rule guaranteed by NATO, with the possibility that the people of Kosovo will then decide their future status. Still, what has worried me is that these kinds of political arrangements require war, both as the igniting and driving forces and as the action that seals them. For the last decade it has been clear that Kosovo needed to be free from Mr. Milosevic's grip: two million Kosovars suffered from his rule in every aspect of our lives, from basic security to education. With the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Kosovar political activists tried to build on the philosophy of nonviolence, leading peaceful demonstrations. But the Western powers did not deal with Kosovo, quite satisfied with the fact that we had not taken up arms. It took the Dayton Accords, which set the terms of peace in Bosnia, to show us that a problem is a problem only when it becomes an armed one. Only when the first guns were heard from the Kosovar side did the leaders of the West's democracies react. This raised images of Bosnia in their minds, as did the renewed scenes of women and children fleeing on tractors. Thus a second lesson: a problem is a problem only if it has been preceded by a similar one. (Likewise, after the genocide in Rwanda, it is difficult to imagine a similar massacre in Africa occurring without outside intervention.) Unlike in Bosnia, the line of confrontation now is drawn in the air: the Serbian forces I can see outside my office can be defeated by NATO planes. Yet when I step outside, I too may be a target, as will my compatriots here who do not have arms. We have been warned that the Serbian forces that have been attacking Kosovar villages for the last year will hunt down Kosovar leaders and professionals amid the confusion of war. I chose to return from France last week to be here at this moment rather than remain abroad. When I signed the peace agreement I also accepted that there would be consequences for the people of Kosovo, that if the Serbian side did not agree to the pact, it would have to be imposed by force -- even at risk to the civilian population. Since then more than 30,000 new refugees have fled their homes, and only God knows how many people will be hurt in the days ahead. We have held up our end of the agreement, and now NATO must honor its obligation. And it is only right for me to be here, to accept responsibility and to try to explain why the costs must be borne. -------------- Veton Surroi, publisher of the newspaper Koha Ditore, was a member of the Kosovar delegation at the peace conference in Rambouillet, France. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sun Mar 28 10:58:24 1999 From: sokolrama at sprynet.com (Sokol Rama) Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 10:58:24 -0500 Subject: [kcc-news] Human Tragedy Unfolding in Kosova Message-ID: <199903281601.LAA14758@smtp3.mindspring.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 --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 28, 1999 The latest news coming from Kosova comprise horrible stories of Serb army, paramilitary forces and armed Serb gangs massacring ethnic Albanian civilians indiscriminately, setting ablaze their houses, using them as human shields, and forcing them to leave their homes at gun-point. According to Nato estimates more than 500,000 Kosova Albanians have been displaced by the Serb offensive in the province. That is more than 25% of the entire population of Kosova. Nato said Serb troops were carrying out a scorched earth policy. Mr Shea, the NATO spokesperson said Europe is "on the brink of a major humanitarian disaster, the likes of which has not been seen in Europe since the closing stages of World War II." Below is an incomplete summary report from the latest news from Kosova. [1] There are reports that 12 ethnic Albanians were executed in Peja. Serb paramilitary cut the throat of Isa Muriqi right in front of his children and his wife, the latter told. [2] Almost the entire population of Suhareka, Rahovec and Prizren, a city of 50.000 Albanians have been displaced at gun-point and are being forced towards the border with Albania. [3] Serb military have displaced by force the entire ethnic Albanian population in Istog, Istog i Posht?m, Dubrava, Muzhevina, Tomoci, Kovraga, Llukavci Begut, Gurakoci, Banja, Lluga, Lubova, Lubozhda, Rashica, and Carralluka. In Rozhaja all its 1.500 albanian inhabitants have been displaced at gun-point. [4] In the triangle Vrella - Banja - Radavc there is a concentration of an estimated 50.000 displaced Albanians from Peja and its suburbs. They report of attrocities, massive indiscriminate killings of Albanians, looting and burning by Serb military, paramilitary forces and armed gangs of Serb civilians. [5] There is no information about the fate of 20.000 ethnic Albanians displaced from Qirez under Serb gun-point and army tanks. The fate of the thousands in Krajkova, Gllogoc, and Sk?nderaj is still unknown. [6] Saturday, in Gjakova 20 ethnic Albanian men detained the previous day were executed by Serb paramilitary. A quarter in the old town of Gjakova (an ancient town near the border with Albania that is almost 100 percent ethnic Albanian) was set ablaze. [7] A witness from Pristina reports that in the morgue of the Pristina hospital are the corpses of at least 200 mutilated and maimed Albanians. [8] Serb forces murdered 20 teachers and the director of a school in front of their pupils before driving the population over the border.The 20 ethnic Albanian teachers had been executed in the village of Goden in southern Kosova. Women who escaped and trekked into Albania told refugee officials that Yugoslav forces separated men from women and children and killed the men in front of them. [9] A clinic belonging to the Mother Teresa charity, was set on fire by Serb troops and paramilitary. Human Rights Watch confirmed the the burning of the Pristina warehouse of the Mother Theresa Society, the largest local humanitarian organization in Kosova. The warehouse was filled with food and medicine and the society had to suspend operations. [10] Bajram Kelmendi, a human rights lawyer and his two sons,Kastriot and Kushtrim, were found shot dead at a gas station between Pristina and Kosova Polje, southwest of the capital. The lawyer and his sons were taken from their home early Thursday morning by police, according to Human Rights Watch. Kelmendi had defended many political prisoners in Kosova over the last decade. [11] More than 60 per cent of Podujeva, in northern Kosova, was razed after being hit by Yugoslav artillery fire.Serb MiG 29s targeted civilian areas in the surrounding Llap region. To the south the town of Suva Reka was being purged of Albanians, their houses left in flames. [12] The following is a partial list of the fifty-three identified ethnic Albanians executed by Serb forces at Bellaja Bridge that connects Rugova with Belacerka and Celina on Friday's punitive incurssion on Albanian civilians of that area. All were males, with the exception ofr one woman.The common last names shows that they came from the same families: 1.Nazmi Selim Popaj 2.Nesim Selim Popaj 3.Sh?ndet Sabri Popaj 4.Agon Sabri Popaj 5.Azllan Remzi Popaj 6.Ethem Halim popaj 7.Kreshnik Ethem Popaj 8.Hazer Malush Popaj 9.Bedrush Avdullah Popaj 10.Avdullah Bedrush Popaj 11.Mursel Vesel Popaj 12.Sahit Vesel Popaj 13.Behlul Mursel Popaj 14.Isuf Haki Popaj 15.Vehap Haki Popaj 16.Mehmet Isuf Popaj 17.Xhavit Syl? Popaj 18.Rrustem Halit Popaj 19.Hysni Smail Popaj 20.Eshref Dem? Zhuniqi 21.Fatos Dem? Zhuniqi 22.Labinot Fatos Zhuniqi 23.Muhamet Hamz Zhuniqi 24.Reshit Muhamet Zhuniqi 25.Bilall Hamz Zhuniqi 26.Shemsi Bilall Zhuniqi 27.Muharrem Shemsi Zhuniqi 28.Xhemail Xhem? Zhuniqi 29.Bajram Xhem? Zhuniqi 30.Abedin Hasan Zhuniqi 31.Him? Shaip Zhuniqi 32.Destan Jup? Zhuniqi 33.Qamil Zymer Zhuniqi 34.Hasim Hajdin Zhuniqi 35.Hysni Ali Fetoshi 36.Dush Fetah Fetoshi 37.Fatmir Hamz Fetoshi 38.Halim Ethem Fetoshi 39.Habib Shaqir Gashi 40.Murat Berisha 41.Musa Qazim Berisha 42.Xaje Ibrahim Kelmendi-Morina --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 28 20:33:17 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 20:33:17 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] HELP KOSOVA! KOSOVA HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATION (KHAO) (fwd) Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE KOSOVA HUMANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATION http://www.khao.org/ Phone: (714) 892-7283 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Assistance Critically Needed to Aid Ill Kosovars March 28, 1999 --- Imagine a world where people suffering from brain tumors, cancer, heart problems, leukemia, and other serious illnesses remain uncared for and untreated. Children wither from strange deficiencies and physical ailments brought on by psychological trauma. For the Albanian men, women, and children of Kosova, this world is a frightening reality. The Kosova Humanitarian Aid Organization (KHAO) is calling on all who are willing and able to help alleviate this suffering during these desperate times for the people of Kosova. KHAO is currently organizing an airlift in late March/ early April of fifteen to twenty seriously ill Kosovars, mostly children, to the United States for desperately needed medical treatment unavailable in Kosova or Albania. The conditions these Kosovars are suffering from include brain tumors, bone tumors, liver cancer, leukemia, heart problems, kidney dysfunction, breast cancer, unexplained deficiencies accompanied by loss of weight and muscle mass, and psychological trauma from Serb onslaught of villages and homes. The group's ages range from 2 years to the mid-50s. Though KHAO has received a committed donation for the airfare, visa applications and the tax to leave Albania, funds to cover the housing and food expenses for this group (including escorts) are desperately needed. Individuals, groups or clubs could agree to support one family for a period of time. The need for Albanian-speaking volunteers is also critical to provide translation and interpretation services. The planned airlift will be a replica of one that took place in November 1998, in which twenty-four Kosova refugees and Albanian nationals were flown to the United States for medical treatment. The lift included children requiring major open heart and brain surgery that would save their lives. Members of this group received the needed surgeries, food and housing as charity. The operations were a huge success and they are finally returning to a normal life. With enough support, KHAO can achieve an even greater success with the March airlift. It is their goal to bring the entire group of ill Albanians to the United States for treatment. For many of the above, they are not sure that they will last past another month. Before help was offered, these Albanians had lost all hope in getting cured and were ready to go back home to die. KHAO was founded last year in Southern California to aid the suffering Albanians of Kosova during their ongoing struggle under Serbian domination. KHAO believes that we are witnessing another holocaust, despite modern times. Terrible crimes of mass killings, rapes and torture of women, children and the elderly are currently taking place in Kosova. Among other projects, KHAO is coordinating efforts with the University of Missouri to initiate a program to help psychologically traumatized Albanians. This program would include deploying professionals in this field to Albania and Kosova (if safety permits) to train others in handling these cases so healing can begin. The contact at the university was very successful with a similar program in Bosnia. KHAO has also started a clinic in Tirana to serve Albanian Kosovar women and children, which will be funded by donations generated from fund-raising efforts with others around the world. The clinic will also serve as a learning center for the Kosovar children. A supply of fifteen computers has been committed to their efforts. The children will have a schedule in which access to these computers will be administered. The technology also will help the clinic communicate efficiently with other medical facilities inside Kosova, Albania, neighboring countries and their main offices in California. To compliment these efforts, they are working on a program for new and young mothers. A supply of breast pumps and other essentials have been provided by Medela, Inc., a leading breast feeding supply company. A training program is currently being organized, which will help to teach the mothers how to best feed their infants and allow them to have reserves needed for their survival during this difficult time when most are living in cold and dangerous mountains. Thousands of refugees are fleeing from Kosova to the neighboring countries of Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia with barely more than the clothes on their backs. They survive off the generosity of others. A mass food drive of flour, wheat, rice, beans, lentils, pastas, canned goods, sugar, and oil is crucial. Additionally, KHAO is preparing a shipment of clothes, medical supplies (including surgical supplies) and children's necessities. They anticipate shipping the supplies by the end of March or early April. This type of shipment was successfully delivered in December 1998. They are asking anyone with the capability to help in any way, to contact them. Their continuing effort to assist the Kosovars during this crisis critically relies on this support. KHAO would appreciate if those with knowledge or contacts that could help to find treatment for the medical cases mentioned above, would contact them immediately. Time is of a critical essence to save their lives. Kosova Humanitarian Aid Organization ( http://www.khao.org ) Main Office: E-mail: kosova at jps.net P.O. Box 37, Midway City, California 92655-9998 - USA Phone: (714) 892-7283 Fax: (714) 898-0740 Texas Office: Phone: (915) 643-3063 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 29 16:06:16 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 16:06:16 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] SUPPORT NEEDED! RALLY! Washington, DC & The Rest of the World! RALLY We need your help!! (fwd) Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN US FOR A RALLY TO STOP GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA Dear Friends: We need your help. Serbs worldwide are staging protests against the NATO mission in Kosova. This Wednesday, Albanians will respond with worldwide rallies, including here in Washington, in support of increased NATO action to stop the genocide in Kosova. I have attached a notice below. We need your help to promote our rally in Washington. If you can, please plan to attend and bring some friends along with you as well. Also, please e-mail this notice to as many people as possible. Thanks for your help. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday. Sincerely, Aferdita Rakipi JOIN US FOR A RALLY TO STOP GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31 11:00 AM, AT LAFAYETTE PARK FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL ALBANIAN AMERICAN COUNCIL AT (202) 955-1428 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 30 17:58:43 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 17:58:43 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Support NATO and KOSOVA! JOIN US IN THE DEMONSTRATION NEAR YOU! AIM Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow the following link: http://www.alb-net.com/index.htm#d for schedule of demonstrations around the world in SUPPORT of NATO and KOSOVA in the struggle against the Serb Terrorist regime! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Mar 30 17:55:40 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 17:55:40 -0500 (EST) Subject: [kcc-news] Kosova: Ethnic Albanians Expelled (fwd) Message-ID: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Human Rights Watch HUMAN RIGHTS FLASH #9 March 30, 1999 YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT FORCES SYSTEMATICALLY EXPEL ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVO Refugees reported to Human Rights Watch researchers today that Serbian special police and Yugoslav military units are systematically expelling ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, including the cities of Pec and Prizren, in a well-orchestrated and centrally organized campaign to rid the region of the majority of its population. The stories of refugees interviewed by Human Rights Watch staff in Albania and Macedonia revealed a consistent pattern in the conduct of the expulsions and their timing, underscoring the fact that the Yugoslav government evidently made a decision over the weekend to "cleanse" the region of ethnic Albanians. Scores of refugees interviewed today described their expulsion from their homes by Serbian forces. Refugees from the major Kosovo cities of Pec (population approximately 100,000) and Prizren (population approximately 80,000) reported that there was widespread shooting in and around the cities from Thursday, March 25 to Saturday, March 27, during which time many shops were burned or bombed. Starting either on Saturday or Sunday, refugees reported that their homes were raided by Serbian special police and/or Yugoslav Army units who moved from neighborhood to neighborhood, ordering people to leave their homes and forcing them into columns that were then accompanied to the border. Refugees repeatedly told how soldiers and police threatened that anyone who did not leave within four hours would be killed. Those who carried out the raids were either Serbian special police dressed in blue camouflage uniforms with either black ski masks or black grease paint on their faces or Yugoslav Army units dressed in green uniforms with either red or white bandanas. One person interviewed by Human Rights Watch also described Serbs in civilian clothes and another spoke of Serbs in all-black who participated in the raids. All ethnic Albanian residents of Pec, a city in western Kosovo, reported that they were forced to gather in the central square where local trucks and private buses had been commandeered by the police to transport them out of the city. None of those interviewed by Human Rights Watch were allowed to take their own vehicles. It appears that a large convoy departed Pec at approximately 11 a.m. accompanied by Yugoslav forces who then stopped them about one hour from the border with Albania and forced them to walk the rest of the way. Several of those interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported that individuals had been pulled out of the convoy and killed, and one person interviewed reported that soldiers stopped the bus he was on and took between 10 and 15 men off the bus. He reported having subsequently heard shooting, but had not actually seen anyone shot. He added, "As we drove past, I saw blood on the road." Human Rights Watch was not able to confirm these reports or find individuals who had been eyewitnesses to the reported killings. Similarly, refugees who were forced to flee the town of Prizren, in southwestern Kosovo, reported that they were rounded up on Sunday morning and forced to leave their homes. In contrast to the expulsion in Pec, no vehicles were provided to transport the residents from the town. Instead, they departed in their own cars, tractors, or on foot to the Albanian border. Those interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported that both cities were almost completely emptied during the raids, although some handicapped and elderly Albanians were reportedly left behind in Pec. Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about their safety. For the past year, the Yugoslav authorities have often targetted ethnic Albanian villages which they claimed were harboring the Kosovo Liberation Army. However, the expulsions reported in Pec and Prizren mark the first time that major cities in Kosovo have been targeted with what appears to be the sole motive of "ethnically cleansing" the region. *** This human rights flash is an occasional information bulletin from Human Rights Watch. It will include human rights updates on the situation in Yugoslavia generally and in Kosovo specifically. For further information contact Fred Abrahams at (212) 216-1270 or Abrahaf at hrw.org. This and other information is also available on our website: www.hrw.org *** --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 kosova at justiceforall.org Wed Mar 31 12:56:43 1999 From: kosova at justiceforall.org (Kosova Task Force USA) Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 11:56:43 -0600 Subject: [kcc-news] Kosova Task Force: Rally for Kosova: Sat. April 3rd, 1999 Message-ID: <199903311753.JAA14546@newshub1-work.home.com> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Action Alert Kosova Task Force, USA March 31, 1999 Kosova Task Force, USA is requesting all Muslims and supporters of Kosova to rally on this Saturday throughout North America. ACTION PLAN FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITIES TO ADOPT 1) Organize Friday Khutba on Kosova followed by dua (supplication) 2) Please organize rallies in all cities in solidarity with Kosova at the local Federal Building or City hall Saturday, April 3, 1999, at 11 am 3) Organize public funeral prayers for our slain brothers and sisters on a day of your choice in your city 4) Make and encourage people to make daily calls to the White House at 202-456-1111 or email president at whitehouse.gov and say: * I support sustained air strikes until total Serb withdrawal from Kosova * I believe the only long term solution is independence for Kosova * I believe the Kosovars should be armed for self-defense 5) Make and encourage others to make daily calls to your Representatives and Senators:(202) 224-3121 and say: * Support House Concurrent Resolution # 9 calling for independence of Kosova * Continue decisive military action until Serb forces leave Kosova * Arm the Kosovars so they can defend themselves ************************************ How to Use 15 Minute for Kosova Today ************************************ Please take five minutes of your time to: 1. Contact your Imam, Masjid president, and other leaders to convey this request 2. If they are ready, we can fed. ex. a kit for them to organize the rally. 3. Forward this email to 20 of your friends. 4. Pray, make dua and help raise funds to aid the victims of genocide in Kosova. ==================================== Kosova Task Force, USA 730 W. Lake St., Suite 156 Chicago, IL 60661, USA Phone: 312-829-0087 Fax: 312-829-0089 Email: Kosova at justiceforall.org Internet: http://www.justiceforall.org ==================================== The following organizations constitute the Kosova Task Force, USA: Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, American Muslim Council, Balkan Muslim Association, Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Islamic Council of New England, Islamic Medical Association, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Majlis Shura New York, The Ministry of Imam W.D. Muhammad, Muslim Students Association of US and Canada, The National Community. =================================== To be removed from this list, send the following command to unsubscribe Kosova-List To be added to this list, send the following command to subscribe Kosova-List --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 donalds at hrw.org Tue Mar 30 12:09:25 1999 From: donalds at hrw.org (Skye Donald) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 18:09:25 +0100 Subject: [kcc-news] Kosovo Human Rights Flash # 10 Message-ID: <199903310015.TAA31844@xmail.hrw.org> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC): http://www.alb-net.com Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Human Rights Watch KOSOVO HUMAN RIGHTS FLASH #10 March 30, 1999 Human Rights Watch has learned that Serbian officials today visited the offices of Radio B92 in Belgrade and took all the names and addresses of its journalists. Radio B92 is Serbia's largest and most important independent radio station. On the night of March 24, Serbian authorities confiscated the station's Belgrade transmitter and B92's editor, Veran Matic, was held in police custody for eight hours. The station continues to broadcast via satellite. Its programs remain one of few alternatives to the state-run media. Since October 1998, when a restrictive Serbian Law on Public Information came into force, the government has systematically shut down or fined out of existence most of Serbia's privately owned media. Foreign broadcasts of the BBC, VOA, RFE/RL and Deutsche Welle have been banned. Newspapers, radio and television stations under the control of Milosevic, especially Radio Television Serbia (RTS), present distorted information about the Kosovo conflict and the role of the international community. In recent weeks the state media has waged a virulent anti-American campaign, likening U.S. President Bill Clinton to Adolf Hitler and NATO airstrikes to World War II-era Nazi aggression. *** This human rights flash is an occasional information bulletin from Human Rights Watch. It will include human rights updates on the situation in Yugoslavia generally and in Kosovo specifically. For further information contact Fred Abrahams at (212) 216-1270 or Abrahaf at hrw.org *** --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS