[Kcc-News] Human Rights and Freedoms: Kosova July 9-16, 2000

[Mentor Cana]

COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Rr. Zdrini, 38000 Prishtinë-Kosovë; 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
Deçan was released from the prison in Pozharevc. The corpses of 12 Albanian
civilians, which were exhumed from the mass grave in “Arbëria” 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 Epërme, a KFOR American soldier accidentally killed
Gentrit Deli Rexhepi (7) from Zgatar (Zllatar) - Ferizaj.

On 11 July. - Besnik Balaj from Isnik (Isniq) – Deçan killed Sadri Azem
Ahmetgjekaj, a former KLA soldier. The incident occurred in the “Jeta 2000”
restaurant.
-After 1.00 am, in Qëndresa (Tërstenik) - 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 “Arbëria” quarter in Prishtina: Zejnullah Nazmi
Berisha (1973) from Gurshkaba (Grabovc i Poshtëm) - Fushë-Kosova (kidnapped
by the Serbian forces on 26 March 1999 on the crossroad in Fushë-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 Fushë-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) - Kaçanik, who went missing on 26 May 1999.

DEÇAN: 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 Kaliçan.

	Disappearances and kidnappings

MALISHEVA: There are no information on the whereabouts of Fazli Ismajl
Gashi (15) from Rrezor (Mleçan), 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 Dërguti (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.

DEÇAN: Demë Batushaj from Baballoç, 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.

SKËNDERAJ: 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 Skënderaj 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 Arbënesh (Astrazup), at about 22.30, KFOR
Russian soldiers stopped Musli Morina and asked for an identification
document. Musli showed them his LKÇK 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 “Nënë 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.

SKËNDERAJ: In the meeting of the Administrative Board of the Municipal
Council in Skënderaj, 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 (Plloçica) - 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 café “Dollçe
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 Dedë Dodaj from Drinisht i Vogël (Krusheva e Vogël).
Deda stated that he recognised one of the assaulters. According to him, the
assaulters came from the direction of Shënmark (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 Gëzim 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.

SKËNDERAJ: 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 café “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 Çagllavica 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.

FUSHË-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
Gërbac 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 Konçul, 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
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