[Kcc-News] On The Situation Of Human Rights And Freedoms In Kosova (Weekly Report #533)

[Mentor Cana]

COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
KËSHILLI PËR MBROJTJEN E TË DREJTAVE E TË LIRIVE TË NJERIUT
Rr. Ylfete Humolli, 38000 Prishtinë-Kosovë; tel. 381 (0) 549006  fax:
381 (0) 38 549007
E-mail:office at cdhrf.org
http://www.cdhrf.org

REPORT 533

on the situation of human rights and freedoms in Kosova between
January 21 and January 31, 2001

The killing of a 15-year-old boy and the wounding of a number of
Albanians in the Bosniac quarter in the northern part of Mitrovica
resulted in the protests of thousands of Albanians in the southern
part of the town. A number of Albanians and KFOR soldiers were
injured during the clashes. KFOR soldiers used tear gas to disperse
the protestors.
3 killings (2 Albanians and 1 Serb) and 12 woundings (9 Albanians, 2
Serbs and 1 Bosniac) were reported during this week. 7 families were
evicted from their flats (6 Albanian and 1 Bosniac family). The
corpses of 2 Albanian civilians, killed by the Serbian forces in
1999, were found and identified. An Albanian prisoner was sentenced
to 4 years of imprisonment by the district court in Nish. 11 Albanian
prisoners were released from the prisons of Serbia.


January 21

KASTRIOT: On January 20, Serbs from the village of Analum (Plemetin)
destroyed the bridge over the Sitnica River. The bridge connects a
number of Albanian villages with Prishtina.


January 22

MITROVICA: The trial against Radovan Tripko Apostoloviq from the
village of Tejibër (Suhadoll) i Epërm, who was accused for war crimes
against the Albanian population in Mitrovica (in the "Kroi i Vitakut"
and "7 Shtatori" quarters) and in the villages of Gushavc, Venar
(Vinarc) i Poshtëm, Vinarc i Epërm, Koshtova e Bobit and Fushibër
(Zhabar) i Epërm (municipality of Mitrovica) and Çabër (Zubin Potok),
began at the district court in Mitrovica. The trial was stopped as
the defence demanded that the trial be chaired by an international
judge.
According to Ramë Imer Najli (76), on January 13, his wife Seliha
Kurtesh Najli (63) was wounded in a bomb attack on their house in
the "Kodra e Minatorëve" quarter. Their house was occupied by a
Serbian family.
BURIM: The district court in Nish sentenced Riza Ahmetaj from Burim
to 4 years of imprisonment. He was accused for "terrorism".
DEÇAN: Driton Zukaj from the village of Beleg, who was arrested by
the Serbian forces in 1998, was released from the Central Prison in
Belgrade.


January 23

MITROVICA: At 1 p.m., in the "Kodra e Minatorëve" quarter, 4 Serbs in
a white "Mercedes" tried to abduct Ibrahim Zatriqi (66) and his wife
Fahrije (65). The assaulters beat Ibrahim until he fainted. French
soldiers saved the couple. Ibrahim was taken to the Moroccan Hospital
in the Car Battery Factory in Mitrovica.
At 2 p.m., 4 Roma went to the house of Lam Peci in the "Ibri" quarter
("Rugova" st. 6). They assaulted his son Sami (18), who suffered
serious body injuries. Sami had to undergo medical treatment.
PRISHTINA: The trial against Zoran Stanojeviq (1968) from the village
of Kroishta near Lipjan, who was accused for the killing of Hajriz
Ibrahimi from the village of Reçak near Shtime, on January 15, 1999,
began at the district court in Prishtina. The trial was postponed for
February 6.
Unidentified persons assaulted a member of the OSCE international
staff. He suffered body injuries and was taken to hospital.
VITI: A grenade was thrown at a Serbian house in the center of Vitia.
A Serbian woman was wounded and considerable material damage was
caused.
RAHOVEC: According to Tomas Lobering, the spokesman of the MNBS, at 9
p.m., 11 grenades were fired on the village of Hoça e Madhe (a
village inhabited by Serbs). 4 houses were considerably damaged.


January 24

MITROVICA: A group of Serbs stopped 2 members of the OSCE, who were
traveling to the northern part of the town, and beat them. They
suffered light body injuries.
PRISHTINA: Flamur Shala, the principal of the "Gjon Gazulli"
secondary school in Prishtina, beat Burim Hilmi Reka (1982), a pupil.
The pupil suffered injuries on the head and had to ask for medical
assistance. Shala was taken to the police station in the "Kodra e
Trimave" quarter.


January 25

MITROVICA: At about 8 p.m., a large group of Serbs and Roma went to
the place called Çeshmellug and threw stones at the houses of Lumni
Zymer Xhaka (41) and his brother Fatmir (24). They were threatened
and insulted. Later on, KFOR soldiers came and dispersed the
assaulters. Considerable material damage was caused.
At about 11.45 p.m., there was shooting in Marko Iliq's café in
Zveçan. Apart from shooting from an automatic gun, Dragan Milutinoviq
sang Chetnick songs and insulted Albanians. Later on, he went to
the "Ibri" quarter, where he repeated these actions, until he was
arrested by KFOR soldiers.
SHTIME: Unidentified persons abducted Adnan Muharrem Rexhepi (7).
Adnan managed to escape and inform the KPS on this.
GJILAN: According to the MNBE, at 2 p.m., in the vicinity of the
place called Ukëahmetaj, on the border between Kosova and Serbia, a
group of 8 armed persons opened fire towards KFOR soldiers.
KAÇANIK: Fatmir Feriz Kurtaj (1962) from the village of Gabrica and
Hasan Shefki Dalloshi (1957) from Doganaj were released from the
prison in Mitrovica e Sremit (Vojvodina). They were arrested by the
Serbian forces on August 10, 1998. Fatmir was sentenced to 6 years of
imprisonment, whereas Hasan to 5 years.
VITI: Xhevat Haziri from Vitia, the vice-chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in
Vitia, who was arrested by the Serbian police in 1998 and sentenced
to 7 years of imprisonment was released from the Central Prison in
Belgrade.


January 26

MITROVICA: At noon, a group of 15-20 Serbs surrounded an Albanian
house in the "Ibri" quarter and threatened the people living in it.
Later on, the Serbs continued to threaten and insult the Albanians
living in this quarter. Ali Tupanxhiu, a Roma who is suspected for
having committed grave crimes against the Albanian population, was
among the assaulters.
GJILAN: The trial against Momçilo Trajkoviq (1947), the former
commander of the Serbian police in Dardana, continued at the district
court in Gjilan. The above-mentioned is indicted for war crimes
against the Albanian population in this region. A number of Serbs
from the municipalities of Gjilan and Dardana, who were supposed to
testify, did not show at court. The next session was re-scheduled for
February 2.
At 8.15 p.m., there was a blast in the vacant house of Dobrivoje
Marinkoviq in the village of Qarrishta (Cërnica). Considerable
material damage was caused.
VITI: At 5.50 p.m., two explosive devices were thrown at a shop
opposite the Orthodox Church in Vitia. 4 Serbs were wounded. The shop
was destroyed completely.
PRISHTINA: According to the ICRC, 4 Albanian prisoners were released
from the prisons of Serbia. 3 were released from the prison in
Zajeçar and 1 from the prison in Kraleva. Those released are: Sejdi
Zekaj from Abria e Poshtme near Skënderaj, Skënder Sadiku from Gjytet
(Dubovc) near Vushtrri, Bahri Istrefi from Bajgora near Mitrovica and
Naim Kida from the municipality of Gjakova.


January 27

MITROVICA: At 1 p.m., 8 Serbs assaulted Hamdi Ali Boja (51) and his
son Petrit (24) in front of their house in the "Ibri" quarter. Petrit
suffered serious injuries on his head and had to ask for medical
assistance. One of the assaulters fired 3 bullets in his direction
and once in the direction of the French soldiers. During the clashes,
three of the assaulters were injured (one of them seriously). Later
on, French soldiers searched the seat of the "Serbian National
Council" and seized two guns and a 4 wheel drive, which the
assaulters had used. One of the assaulters was Laqko, a leader of
the "bridge guards".
GJAKOVA: At about midnight, Mahir Haxhi Lajçi, an officer of the KPC,
was killed in unknown circumstances in Gjakova. Fadil Hyseni from
Peja and Rexhep Daci from Rrezar (Irzniq) near Deçan were wounded.
They were taken to the Prishtina Hospital.
FUSHË-KOSOVA: In the early hours of the morning, KFOR soldiers and
the UNMIK police found the corpse of Dragolub Dodereviq (1951) in the
vicinity of the kindergarten in Fushë-Kosova. The perpetrators of
this crime are unknown. Radovan Dobriq from the village of Miradia e
Epërme was stabbed.
VUSHTRRI: At 1.45 p.m., 3 armed Serbs from the village of Prilluzha,
opened fire towards the house of Rexhep Saraçi in the village of
Burim (Bivolak).
DRENAS: The corpse of Isuf Ibush Hoxha (1967) from the village of
Bushat (Komoran), which was found a few days ago at the place called
Rrasa e Zogut in Koshare near Gjakova, was identified. Personal
documents belonging to the victim, a wallet and a watch were found at
the spot.



January 28

MITROVICA: At 10.30 a.m., a group of 20-25 Serbs beat Naser Qazim
Mernica (25). Naser suffered serious body injuries. Naser was saved
by his neighbors. At 3 p.m., in the "Kodra e Minatorëve" quarter, a
group of Serbs severely ill-treated Hakif Mehmet Mehmeti (21).
KASTRIOT: In the early hours of the morning, unidentified persons
broke into the offices of the PDK branch in Kastriot. A computer, a
photocopy machine and other materials were stolen.


January 29

MITROVICA: At about 1 p.m., a group of some 50 Serbs assaulted a
number of Albanians living in the "Ibri" quarter. The assaulters
threw 4 bombs. The house of Qazim Mernica was burned. Gazmend Agim
Ibrahimi (15) was killed; Vedat Hakif Vidishiqi (25), Niazi Jahja
Mripa (35), Halil Januz Januzi (21), Alban Ferit Kadriu (22), Bajram
Arif Igrishta (20), Armend Agim Ibrahimi (13), Abdullah Gubetini (18)
and Naser Ramë Sekuloviq (27), a Bosniac, were wounded.
PRIZREN: The trial against Sava Matiq from the village of Hoça e
Madhe near Rahovec, who was accused for war crimes against the
Albanian population in this municipality, ended at the district court
in Prizren. The board of judges, which was chaired by Daniel Gruja
(from Rumania), dropped the charges on the implication of Sava Matiq
in the killing of 42 Albanian civilians in Krusha e Madhe. He was
sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for having inflicted "light
wounds to two persons". After the verdict was declared, there were
protests from the witnesses, the families of the killed and people
present in the court. Police intervened in order to calm the
situation.
MALISHEVA: Jahir Mazreku from the village of Gurishta (Guriq), who
was arrested in 1998, was released from the prison in Pozharevc.
PRISHTINA: According to the ICRC, an Albanian prisoner from the
municipality of Prizren was released from the prison in Nish.
VITI: The corpse of Ymer Shabiu (1968) from the village of Lugishta
was found at the place called dy varrezat e Kabashit, in the vicinity
of the border between Kosova and Macedonia. Ymer went missing on
March 29, 1999.


January 30

MITROVICA: At 4 p.m., the protests of the Albanian citizens in the
southern part of Mitrovica escalated to clashes with KFOR soldiers.
Fire was set to 3 KFOR vehicles and one vehicle of the UNMIK police.
A number of vehicles, which were parked in front of the UNMIK
building, were damaged. A number of protestors had to ask for medical
assistance due to the use of tear gas. 3 French soldiers and one Serb
(Dragan Stanojeviq), working with the OSCE, were injured. Tear gas
was thrown inside the flat of Bahrije Rizah Syla (48) in the "Qendra
2" quarter. A number of Serbs gathered in the northern part of the
town and provoked the Albanian protestors. At 5 p.m., a group of
Albanian protestors headed towards the Orthodox Church. Greek
soldiers used their guns to disperse the protestors, who threw stones
at them. Greek soldiers opened fire towards the car of Lavdim Bajram
Hoxha (24). Bujar Sadri Peci (18) from "Kodra e Minatorëve" was
detained and punched by Greek soldiers. 15 minutes later he was
released. Fire was set to a Serbian house in the vicinity of the
Orthodox Church.
At 9 p.m., 2 families were evicted from their flats in the "Ibri"
quarter. One of them was the family of Dervish Sokoloviq, a Bosniac.
Serbs opened fire towards the house of Dr. Shaqir Beqir Demiri (50)
in the "Qendra 2" quarter.
Lavdim Mursel Ibishi (21) and Fidan Xhafer Ibishi (15) were arrested
by the UNMIK police. UNMIK police ill-treated Ilir Hajdar Krasniqi
(29) from the village of Arbana (Dushanova) near Prizren.
The following asked for medical assistance at the Health Care Center
in Mitrovica: Shkëlzen Selimi (17), Xhezide Monovi (27), Labinot
Salihu (24), Faton Azemi (19), Petrit Ibrahimi (18), Luan Prekazi
(20), Nezahate Hajrizi (20), Avni Ahmeti (20), Ferki Çitaku (21),
Valon Morina (16), Kemail Jonuzi (16), Vehbi Trepça (16), Izet
Xhemaili (19), Limon Shyti (18), Bashkim Avdyli (14), Bejtush Cimili
(20), Shkelzen Mustafa (17), Arsim Hajdini (21), Mustafë Zajmi (18),
Avni Islami (14), Fisnik Kaçaniku (19), Vergim Sylejmani (33), Petrit
Ibrahimi (18), Kadri Shala (19), Shaban Rexhepi (21), Shelzen Selmani
(22), Xhemë Hashani (21), Arben Isa (22), Rrahim Kelmendi (23),
Blerim Jashari (19), Bashkim Avdi Avdyli (34), Fahredin Ragip Hajra
(20), Fisnik Agim Kaçaniku (19), Nazim Ramadan Uka (24) and Mustafë
Zajmi (18) from Mitrovica; Driton Lahu (17), Blerim Jashari (19) and
Jeton Lah Jashari (22) from Venar (Vinarc) i Poshtëm; Vehbi Ujkani
(16) from Venar (Vinarc) i Epërm; Ferit Ibrahimi (24) and Burim
Kadriu (14) from Sylan (Shupkoc); Zymer Peci (40) and Nysret Musli
Peci (18) from Zhazha; Kujtim Shosholli (17) from Kçiq i Madh; Bekim
Beka (22) from Gushavc; Rafet Osmani (22) from Fushibër (Zhabar) i
Poshtëm; Zenel Zeneli (15) from Mazaj (Mazhiq); Driton Peci (14) from
Rrahina (Rahova); Vllaznim Rama (32) from Tejibër (Suhadoll) and
Sadik Sogaqi (15) from Gramsh (Pirq) – from the municipality of
Mitrovica, and Nexhmedin Ismaili from Vushtrria and Limon Isa Shyti
(28) from Ashlan near Vushtrri and Sylë Koca (14) from Hasanprishtina
(Polac) near Skënderaj.
PRISHTINA: According to the ICRC, an Albanian prisoner from the
municipality of Prishtina was released from the prison in Nish.


January 31

MITROVICA: Thousands of Albanians continued their protests in
Mitrovica. The protestors, who had gathered in the vicinity of the
Ibri Bridge, threw stones at KFOR soldiers. KFOR soldiers used tear
gas to disperse the protestors. During the intervention of the French
soldiers the flats of the following were damaged: Burhan Qazim
Kalaveshi (60), Remzi Mehmet Jolla (57), Shemsedin Shaban Hajdari,
Agim Rifat Deva, Mursel Hajriz Dibrani and Dervish Rrustem Musa.
Hajrije Bislim Dibrani (50) and Lota Burhan Kalaveshi (2) suffered
body injuries.
14 French soldiers were wounded in a bomb blast (one seriously).
According to the Sub-CDHRF in Mitrovica some 100 protestors and 23
KFOR soldiers were injured. The following were injured: Erhad
Rokoteli (22), Lulzim Rokoteli (29), Idriz Morina (22), Fehmi Tahiri
(19), Shaban Mani (30), Tahir Tahiri (20), Adem Beqiri (20), Remzije
Sahiti (36), Sanije Meha (30), Nehat Murati (17), Fitore Hasani (14),
Faton Jashari (17), Hazir Beqiri (27), Shaban Bala (18), Qenan Nuka
(29), Jeton Duraku (23), Lavdim Selmani (20), Bashkim Mernica (17),
Halim Hasani (32), Izedin Krasniqi (31) – a journalist; Rafet Jusufi
(26), Besnik Lahu (17), Adem Beqiri (28), Arban Sahiti (24),
Shemsedin Rushi (30), Fisnik Hyseni (10), Abit Kelmendi (22), Naser
Kurti (19), Shpend Meha (26), Pajazit Avdiu (37), Burim Beshiri (20),
Hakif Mehmeti (20), Qazim Bala (45), Naser Meholli (25), Enver Tahiri
(16), Tefik Musa (16), Enis Latifi (16), Imer Ukelli (20), Habib
Kadriu (23), Pajazit Aziz Avdiu (32), Nehat Hajzer Murati (17), Izet
Shabani (20), Lavdim Selimi (18), Elez Elshani (36), Bajram Zena
(52), Jakup Jakupi (42), Muharrem Muharremi (40), Naim Zeka (22),
Bajram Shala (10), Çerkin Mustafa (29), Gëzim Cimili (29), Safet
Osmani (24), Ilmi Hasani (37), Ergin Rexhepi (20), Rexhep Kurti (26),
Reshat Sadiku (18), Shemsedin Rushiti (30), Arsim Dajaku (23), Agron
Tahiri (21), Avdullah Ibrahimi (18), Sebush Çeliku (33), Naser Kurti
(20), Ramadan Vejaku (26), Shaqir Shaqiri (65), Izet Tahiri (19),
Driton Baruti (22) and Sadat Sarraçi from Mitrovica; Lavdim Deliu
(21), Petrit Jonuzi (26), Qazim Brahimi (44) and Mehdi Ismaili (18)
from Kçiq i Madh; Murat Aliu (20), Agim Ferati (30) and Artan Meha
(23) from Shipol; Xhavit Xhafa (18) and Vehbi Xhafa (22) from Bare;
Faton Trepça (21) and Gëzim Begolli (16) from Trepça; Nebih Osmani
(27) from Fushibër (Zhabar); Nebih Emini from Fushibër (Zhabar) i
Poshtëm; Hysni Ahmeti (44) from Tejibër (Suhadoll); Halil Meholli
(22) from Tuneli i Parë and Fejzë Ademi (25) from Ropica –
(municipality of Mitrovica), and Garentina Kraja (22), a journalist
of the "Koha Ditore" daily and Sylejman Kllokoqi (42), a journalist
from Prishtina; Arben Klinaku (20) and Izet Haliti (32) from Vushtrri
and Diar Thaçi (18) from Skënderaj.
At 15.00, the families of Muharrem Bajram Jusufi (62) and Selvete
Abrashi were evicted from their flats in the "Ibri" quarter. At
18.00, the families of Esat Baruti (65), Berat Baruti and Hadije
Zhubi (53) were evicted from their flats.


Presheva, Bujanoc, Medvegja

PRESHEVA: On January 23, at about 23.00, there was a powerful blast
at the "Valoni-Petrol" Gas Station in the vicinity of the village of
Bilaç, owned by the Azizi brothers from Rahovica.
BUJANOC: On January 24, a number of Albanian houses were damaged
during shelling by the Serbian forces in the villages of Tërnoc and
Lluçan. Isuf Murati and Nexhat Rexhepi were seriously wounded.
The villagers of Shoshaja e Epërme fled their homes due to shelling
by the Serbian police and military forces. A number of Albanian
houses were damaged.

Prishtina, February 1, 2001 Information Service