From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Jul 19 12:01:24 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 12:01:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] Massive detentions of ethnic Albanians in Serbia Message-ID: http://www.clari.net/hot/wed/bt/Qyugo-kosovo.RM62_AlG.html Massive detentions of ethnic Albanians in Serbia: party Sunday, 16-Jul-2000 11:20AM VRANJE, Yugoslavia, July 16 (AFP) - Serbian police are continuing to detain ethnic Albanians in the southern Serbian communities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja near the Kosovo border, a local ethnic Albanian party charged Sunday. "In recent days, after a series of explosions" in the area, "numerous Albanians were detained while their homes were searched, thus raising political tensions," said a statement from the Party for Democratic Action (PPD), which represents ethnic Albanians in the region. Some 70,000 Albanians live in the three communities, after thousands of them fled the area during and after the 1999 NATO bombing campaign on Yugoslavia. The police and the army have multiplied their checkpoints in the region, the party said, describing the moves as a "progressive imposition of the state of emergency." The PDD accused the Serbian authorities of trying to create a "feeling of insecurity" among the Albanians, "in a bid to speed up their exodus" from the area. The Albanians have been "deprived of basic rights," while the economic development of the region "is endangered" by Belgrade's moves, the statement said. Local Serbian authorities said Thursday that mortar shells had been fired at a police checkpoint in Konculj, a village in the so-called security zone, established after NATO-led peacekeepers entered Kosovo in June 1999. Only Serb police can patrol the area, often called the "demilitarized zone". Konculj is situated near the village Dobrosin, a stronghold of an ethnic Albanian armed separatist group named "The Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac" (UCPMB). Violence between Albanian separatists and police has already left several people dead and dozens wounded. From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Jul 25 12:10:59 2000 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 12:10:59 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-News] Human Rights and Freedoms: Kosova July 9-16, 2000 Message-ID: COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS Rr. Zdrini, 38000 Prishtin?-Kosov?; tel. 381 (0) 549006 fax: 381 (0) 38 549007 E-mail:kmdlnj at albanian.com cdhrf at albanian.com http://www.albanian.com/kmdlnj REPORT no. 505 On the situation of human rights and freedoms from 9 until 16 July 2000 In the period between July 9 and July 16 there were no killings between members of different ethnic groups. The killings in which members of the same ethnic group are involved and the accidental killing of a child are concerning. The killing of an Albanian, as well as the woundings during the previous week, regardless of their motive, are very concerning for the Kosovar public opinion. There was automatic fire towards the house of the chairman of LDK and chairman of the administrative board in the municipality of Klina, who was the former chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Klina. These can have political motives, yet they can be an attack perpetrated by the destructive or extremist groups, which aim the violation of individual ad collective fundamental human rights. The human rights situation in Kosova was burdened with the wounding of three Serbian priests. After this incident, Serbian crowds blocked the roads and protested. These acts resulted in attacks against KFOR troops. The Serbian crowds were very aggressive against the Albanians in the northern part of Mitrovica, when KFOR troops were attacked. Destructive extremists in this part of Kosova attacked the OSCE registration centre in the municipality of Leposaviq. Serbian chairman of the administrative board in this municipality had called upon the population to register, as it was for their own benefit. The event that added fuel to the flames was the Belgrade District Court, which sentenced 6 Albanians to 46,5 years of imprisonment. 5 of them are students with the University of Belgrade. They were arrested in Belgrade in May 1999 for ?hostile activity? and ?terrorism?. During last week, according to the available data, 4 Albanians were killed (one in a mine accident, whereas a child was accidentally killed by a KFOR soldier), 3 Serbs were wounded, a child was reported missing. The District Court in Belgrade sentenced 6 Albanians from Kosova (one in absentia) to 46,5 years of imprisonment, whereas an Albanian from the municipality of De?an was released from the prison in Pozharevc. The corpses of 12 Albanian civilians, which were exhumed from the mass grave in ?Arb?ria? Prishtina, were identified. 4 human skeletons and three corpses were found in other parts of Kosova. Killings On 10 July. ? In the yard of the ?Nijazi Rexhepi? Primary School in Gjelbina (Sllatina) e Ep?rme, a KFOR American soldier accidentally killed Gentrit Deli Rexhepi (7) from Zgatar (Zllatar) - Ferizaj. On 11 July. - Besnik Balaj from Isnik (Isniq) ? De?an killed Sadri Azem Ahmetgjekaj, a former KLA soldier. The incident occurred in the ?Jeta 2000? restaurant. -After 1.00 am, in Q?ndresa (T?rstenik) - Drenas, unidentified persons killed Vehbi Xhemajl Dvorani (1973), when he was leaving the house, as his kiosk was being looted. On 12 July. ? While pasturing the cattle in Dukas (Duga) ? Shtime, Florie Jashari (1984) hit a mine and died. Mass graves ? identifications PRISHTINA: Until 13 July, the corpses of the following were identified in the mass grave in the ?Arb?ria? quarter in Prishtina: Zejnullah Nazmi Berisha (1973) from Gurshkaba (Grabovc i Posht?m) - Fush?-Kosova (kidnapped by the Serbian forces on 26 March 1999 on the crossroad in Fush?-Kosova and identified by his family members according to his clothes); Isa Aziz Gashi (1976), Xhevdet Sali Gashi (1976), Mumin Ragip Gashi (1976), Haki Shaban Bajrami (1960) and Besim Hajriz Makolli (1982) ? from Fush?-Kosova; Muharrem Gashi, Hasan Vitia and Mehmet Zeka ? from Prishtina; Halit Bici from Mazgit (Kastriot - Obiliq), killed by the Serbian paramilitaries on 28 March 1999); Haki Morina from the municipality of Dardana and Fadil Nazmi Berisha from Rranza (Runjeva) - Ka?anik, who went missing on 26 May 1999. DE?AN: 4 human skeletons were found at the place called Ereniku in Juniku Mountains. It is believed that they were killed in June 1998. Some clothes were found at the same place. The territory is still mined. BURIM: On 12 July, three corpses (two male and one female) were found between the villages of Gurras (Studenica) and Kali?an. Disappearances and kidnappings MALISHEVA: There are no information on the whereabouts of Fazli Ismajl Gashi (15) from Rrezor (Mle?an), a pupil with the ?Lasgush Poradeci? Secondary School in Pleqnor (Kijeva), since 7 July. The prisoners - trials BELGRADE: On 10 July, the District Court in Belgrade sentenced the following: Petrit Berisha (12 years of imprisonment), Zef Palucaj (8 years of imprisonment ? in absentia), Dritan Meqa and Shkodran D?rguti (7 years of imprisonment each), Isam Avdullahu (6,5 years of imprisonment) and Driton Berisha (6 years of imprisonment). They were arrested by the Serbian police on 19 May 1999 in Belgrade. Apart from Zef, a goldsmith, the others are students with the University of Belgrade. DE?AN: Dem? Batushaj from Baballo?, arrested by the Serbian police in Gjakova in 1998, was released from the prison in Pozharevc (Serbia). CHRONICLE On 9 July PRISHTINA: At about 23.00, there were fire shots in the vicinity of the residence of the chairman of the LDK, dr. Ibrahim Rugova, in the ?Velania? quarter. SK?NDERAJ: At about midnight, unidentified armed persons threatened the guard of the Tax Department of the Directory for Economy and Finance in the Municipal Council in Sk?nderaj and looted 97.000 DM from the safe box. On 10 July RAHOVEC: In the vicinity of the Serbian quarter, an UNMIK policeman took off the Albanian national flag from Sahatkulla under the pretext that the flag was put on the Serbian Orthodox Church with provocative aims. After the protests of the Albanians in Rahovec, the flag was put back on its place, whereas general Fritz von Korff reconfirmed that his soldiers do not have the right to take off the Albanian national flag. On 11 July MALISHEVA: In the vicinity of Arb?nesh (Astrazup), at about 22.30, KFOR Russian soldiers stopped Musli Morina and asked for an identification document. Musli showed them his LK?K membership card. He had 1800 DM in it. Russian soldiers took the money and gave him back his card. Musli reported his case at the KFOR and the UNMIK police. PRISHTINA: The Union of Women of Kosova organised a protest for the release of the Albanian prisoners from the Serbian prisons. Even though this protest was announced, police did not undertake any measures to stop the traffic along the ?N?n? Tereza? square, where the protesters would march. On 12 July VITI: At noon, in Kllokot, Dragan Kojiq, a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and his two assistants, were wounded by unknown persons. At about 13.00, Serbs blocked the road Kllokot-Vitia and threw stones to some passing-by vehicles. Several people from the crowd attempted to kidnap an American soldier. Thanks to the fast intervention of KFOR soldiers and UNMIK police, the situation was calmed and the road was unblocked. SK?NDERAJ: In the meeting of the Administrative Board of the Municipal Council in Sk?nderaj, UNMIK administrator Ken Inoue demanded from this organ to close down Radio Drenica, which started its work on 18 June 2000. He stated that this radio station ?is hindering? the KFOR communication system. KLINA: At about 18.40, fire was opened towards the vehicle of Ramadan Krasniqi, chairman of the Administrative Board of the Municipal Council in Klina, in the vicinity of his house in Nora (Zajm). On 13 July KLINA: At about 5.40, KFOR German military policemen went into the house of Miftar Pajaziti in Kushtrim (Cerovik) and started to punch the family members. Riza Pajaziti (22) was beaten until he fainted. He suffered severe body injuries. His father Pajazit was also beaten. Halit?s wife Fazile, pregnant, and Ganimete Pajaziti, paralysed, suffered traumas. Their neighbour Bajram Pajaziti was severely beaten. After an hour and a half, the translator of the UNMIK police apologised under the pretext that ?a mistake had occurred?, as the military policemen were looking for another family in Gurakuq (Pllo?ica) - Malisheva. On 14 July MITROVICA: At 23.30, about 200 Serbs attacked many Albanian flats in the ?7 Shtatori? quarter. They also fired a grenade, which hit the wall between the 6th and 7th floors. At the same time, fire was opened from the caf? ?Doll?e vita? towards the flats of Ali Sadik Istrefi (55) and Ajet Zymer Shosholli (45). Fortunately, no one suffered. After 1.00 am, Serbs opened fire towards the blue skyscraper, which is opposite UNMIK and the OSCE, in the south of the town. The windows in the flats of Agim Rifat Deva, Aliniki Hysein Hyseini (52) and Selahedin Shaban Gashi (74) were hit. Serbs have been protesting in the streets in the north of the town for three days. They have been threatening the Albanians to move to Albania. KLINA: At midnight, according to the UNMIK police, unidentified persons attacked the family of Ded? Dodaj from Drinisht i Vog?l (Krusheva e Vog?l). Deda stated that he recognised one of the assaulters. According to him, the assaulters came from the direction of Sh?nmark (Jagoda) and on opening fire, left towards an unknown direction. On 15 July MITROVICA: At 17.15, in the vicinity of the department store in Mitrovica, three French soldiers stopped G?zim Fetah Mehana (12) and took him to the entrance of a building. On searching him, one of the soldiers kicked him without any reason. French soldiers raided the Catholic Church in Mitrovica under the pretext of searching for weapons. About 40 Serbs led by Oliver Ivanoviq went to Leposaviq to interrupt the registration of the Serbian population. They attempted to get the lists. Belgian soldiers took OSCE employees to a safe place. SK?NDERAJ: At about 16.00, a group of Serbs from the municipality of Zubin-Potok, bordering with Shqiponjas (Radisheva), attacked this village. They attacked the Selmani quarter. The Albanians responded to the attack and after 4 hours, the Serbs withdrew. There were no casualties, other than material damages. LIPJAN: At about 4.30, the caf? ?Napoli? in the centre of Lipjan, owned by Agron Sefedini, was blown up. Several cafes around were damaged. The damages were estimated to more than 70.000 DM. On 16 July PRISHTINA: At the KFOR checkpoint in ?Veternik? in Prishtina, Swedish soldiers stopped 40 cars of the Albanian wedding guests from Vitia and demanded from them to take off the Albanian national flag while passing through the village of ?agllavica under the pretext that local Serbs might throw stones at them. The wedding guests blocked the road, whereas Swedish soldiers broke the windows in 4 vehicles in an effort to make them leave. After 3 hours, UNMIK police arrived on the spot and the road was unblocked. The Albanian wedding guests went on with their flag. FUSH?-KOSOVA: At about 22.00, the Orthodox Church in the village of Mesbardh (Pomozotin) was destroyed in an explosion. Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja MEDVEGJA: On 8 July, the Serbian forces looted 30 houses in the village of G?rbac and later on expelled the Albanian population. Afterwards, they burned the village. BUJANOC: On 13 July, at about 7.15, in the centre of Bujanoc, three unidentified persons in a white Golf (VR 232-22), who introduced themselves as policemen, kidnapped Afrim Leka (1978) from Bujanoc. Later on, it was found out that Afrim was at the Serbian State Security in Bujanoc. The reason for his arrest is still unknown. In the evening, in Kon?ul, there were clashes between the Serbian police and armed Albanians. Serbian media informed that one Albanian was killed, but this news was not confirmed by other sources. Information Service Prishtina, 17 July 2000 ____________________________________________________________________ **************** FREE ALBIN KURTI ************** http://www.FreeAlbinKurti.com/ ____________________________________________________________________