|
|
|
Kosova Daily Report #1417, 98-05-02
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1417
Prishtina, 2 May 1998
First Edition: 11:00 CET
Second Edition: 16:00 hrs
CONTENTS
[01] Serb Shelling Leaves Three Killed, Three Wounded in an Albanian Family
at Vojnik&
[02] Thirty Young Albanians Arrested in Gjakova, Threatened with Execution
[03] Three Albanians from Klina Municipality Tortured Severely
[04] Serb Forces Fire Sporadically into Besieged Villages in Drenica Today
[05] Serb Forces Attack Half a Dozen Albanian Houses in Duhla of Suhareka
[06] Thousands of Albanians March Peacefully for 23rd Consecutive Day in
Kosova Streets
[07] Serb Police Keeps Under Strict Scrutiny LDK Office in Gjakova
[01] Serb Shelling Leaves Three Killed, Three Wounded in an Albanian Family
at Vojnik&
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - The Gashi family at Vojnik& village of Skenderaj
('Srbica') suffered huge casualties late last evening amidst Serb shelling
of the village.
Asllan Gashi (26), Merita Gashi (f) (23) and Rab& Gashi (f) (34) were
killed around 22:00 hrs Friday in their home at Vojnik&, whereas Zahide
Gashi (f) (60), Zeqir Gashi (42) and Florije Gashi (f) (22) were wounded
during the Serb forces' attack.
The attack on the Gashi family at Vojnik& is the most barbaric attack of
the Serbian forces after the massacre of Albanian families at Prekaz i
Posht&m village of Skenderaj two months ago.
On 5 March 1998, the extended family of Shaban Jashari had 20 members slain,
most of them children, women, and elderly.
A dozen villages in the Drenica region (Llaush&, Rakinic&, Turi^evc,
Kopiliq i Ul&t, Kopiliq i Ep&rm, Vojnik&, Buroj&, A^arev&, etc.) have been
in a state of siege enforced by heavy Serbian forces since 5 March.
These forces resumed Thursday evening the shelling of Albanian households.
The shelling has continued today, and is reported still going on.
The LDK sources at Llaush&, referring to their sources at the villages of
Turi^evc and Rakinic&, said the following Albanian houses have been burned
down, ruined, damaged or plundered: the houses of Jakup Syla, Syl& Lutani,
Avdi Lutani, Rexhep ^arku, Mustaf& ^arku, Mehmet ^arku, Naser ^arku, Hysen
^arku, Azem ^arku, Zymer ^arku, Kamer ^arku, Imer ^arku, Sahit Dajaku,
Malush Dajaku, Osman Dajaku, Azem Emini, Bedri Beqiri, Miftar Beqiri,
Sahit Dajaku, Ferat Dajaku, Hajdin Durmishi, Rifat Durmishi, Mexhit
Durmishi, etc.
The Serb forces entered the villages of Turi^evc and Rakinic& two nights
ago, and withdrew last night.
Eye-witnesses said Serb forces unleashed a sheer terror campaign in the
villages.
At Turi^evc village, Serb forces killed Agim Emin Emini (35) yesterday at
his home. His body was reported mutilated afterwards.
Mr. Fadil Geci, a local LDK activist at Llaush&, told the Kosova
Information Center (KIC) the killed Emini had part of his head smashed, and
skin cuts on his neck as well as on the left arm and other parts of the
body.
Agim Emini will be buried today at 17:00hrs at Turi^evc village.
The consequences of this latest operation by Serb forces against Albanian
villages in Drenica may well be graver, local sources said.
[02] Thirty Young Albanians Arrested in Gjakova, Threatened with Execution
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - Around 30 Albanian youths, girls and boys, were
rounded-up Friday afternoon in downtown Gjakova during a Serbian police
expedition in the pubs and cafes in this south- western Kosova town, LDK
sources reported.
The young Albanians were forced into police cars and threatened they would
be taken to the Kosova-Albanian border zone and liquidated as arms
smugglers and terrorists.
They were all taken to the police station in Gjakova eventually, where they
were held in police custody until late evening hours.
The Albanians were reported questioned and ill-treated while in custody.
The LDK sources in Gjakova said most of the youths were released late
Friday night.
[03] Three Albanians from Klina Municipality Tortured Severely
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - On April 28, the Serbian police arrested at
Gllareva Hamit M. Berisha and Sadik Berisha from Volljak, as well as Brahim
S. Gashi from Sferka. They were all taken to the police station in Klina,
LDK sources in Klina reported.
The three Albanians were held and beaten severely at the Klina police
station, and transferred to the Peja Serbian police custody later. They
were held there until the next day in the afternoon.
The Albanians were reported subjected to additional police torture while in
custody in Peja.
[04] Serb Forces Fire Sporadically into Besieged Villages in Drenica Today
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - A number of villages in the Drenica region -
Llaush&, Rakinic&, Turi^evc, Kopiliq i Ul&t, Kopiliq i Ep&rm, Vojnik&,
Buroj&, A^arev& - have come under sniper fire and sporadic shelling by
Serbian forces today (Saturday), local sources said.
Meanwhile, Serbian forces have reportedly opened fire near the Gllarev&
village of Klina today (Saturday).
Three members killed and three others wounded - this is the casualty toll
on an Albanian family at Vojnik& village, whose house was shelled by Serb
forces late last evening. Asllan Gashi, 26, Merita Gashi (f), 23, and Rab&
Gashi (f), 34, were killed in their home, whereas Zahide Gashi (f), 60,
Zeqir Gashi, 42, and Florije Gashi (f), 22.
A couple of dozen Albanian houses at Turi^evc and Rakinic& villages have
been reported burned, ruined, damaged, or plundered during Serb forces
onslaught which started two nights ago. The forces withdrew from the
villages last night.
Yesterday, Serb forces killed Agim Emini (35) in his house at Turi^evc. His
body has been reported mutilated.
LDK sources at Llaush& said fresh Serb forces have arrived in Skenderaj
('Srbica'). The forces have been stationed in the compounds of the Game
Ammunition Factory.
Reports from Mitrovica spoke today of Serb military and police forces
having headed to Skenderaj.
Part of the newly-arrived forces have been deployed in the woods of the
villages of Lusht& and Broboniq, which are situated alongside the Mitrovica-
Skenderaj road.
A convoy of Serb soldiers on board 25 lorries reached today the town of
Mitrovica from the northern Kosovar town of Leposaviq.
[05] Serb Forces Attack Half a Dozen Albanian Houses in Duhla of Suhareka
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - Several Albanian family compounds at Duhla village
of Suhareka came again under the Serb police fire during the course of
Friday night and Saturday morning. Houses of half a dozen local Albanians
were damaged, sources said.
The LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said Serb police forces in two
armored vehicles and a van reached Duhla village last evening at around
20:00 hrs. At around 3:00 a.m. today, the police opened fire on the houses
of Idriz Rrafshi, Jahir Rrafshi, Hajrullah Rrafshi and Ragip ^atani.
Considerable damage was caused on the roofs, walls and windows of their
houses.
The Commission said that just after 6 o'clock in morning Serb police raided
on the households of Sadri Bytyqi, Haki Bytyqi, Nebih ^atani, Ymer Rrafshi
and Murteza Kurtishaj. Family members were reported maltreated by the
police who also demolished household belongings and furniture.
LDK sources could not tell what was the pretext of the Serb police
crackdown in Duhla last night.
One Serb policeman was reported killed and another one wounded in still
unsolved circumstances in Duhla village on Thursday night.
[06] Thousands of Albanians March Peacefully for 23rd Consecutive Day in
Kosova Streets
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - Thousands of Albanians turned out today in the
streets of Kosova, including capital Prishtina, to protest of the Serb
regime rule and terror in Kosova.
Under the motto "Kosova- the Biggest Jail in Europe" the Kosova citizens
marched today for the 23rd consecutive day from 12 to 12:30 without holding
placards or chanting slogans.
Sources from most of the Kosova towns said the citizens turn-out was
massive again today.
The peaceful half-hour manifestations have been called by the LDK and other
political parties to protest Serbian occupation and call independence for
Kosova's independence.
[07] Serb Police Keeps Under Strict Scrutiny LDK Office in Gjakova
PRISHTINA, May 2 (KIC) - The LDK office in Gjakova was reported under
strict scrutiny by Serb policemen positioned around it since last night.
The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said heavily armed Serb policemen
besieged the party's office in the town last evening.
Serb policemen have been standing just in front of the LDK office door
today too, scrutinizing people going in or out.
The police has not intruded into the office the Commission said, adding
that they want to prevent it from normally working.
Kosova Information Center
|
