|
|
|
Kosova Daily Report #1557, 98-09-19
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1557
Prishtina, 19 September 1998
CONTENTS
[01] 4 Albanians Killed, 9 Missing in Podujeva Villages in the Wake of Serb
Onslaught
[02] Bodies of Two Albanians Found in Ka^anoll Village of Shal& e Bajgor&s
[03] Serb Forces Burn 17 Albanian Villages in Shal& e Bajgor&s Region
[04] A Bit Calmer Situation in Podujeva Area
[05] Two Boys Died, 4 Wounded in Still Unsolved Explusion, in Prizren
[06] Serbs Burn Farmhouses in C&rnush& Village, Mitrovica
[07] Fifty Hand-Cuffed Albanians Taken to Serb Jail in Mitrovica
[08] Serbs Go 'Night Hunting' in Deserted Houses of Albanians in Mitrovica
[09] Artillery Fire Reported in Suhareka Overnight
[10] Serb Burn Houses of Albanians, Prevent Return of Refugees, in Gjakova
[01] 4 Albanians Killed, 9 Missing in Podujeva Villages in the Wake of Serb
Onslaught
The fate of eight children of killed Albanian also unknown PRISHTINA, Sept
19 (KIC) - The consequences of the Serb onslaught in the village of
Dobratin, 8 km north of Podujeva, are still to be determined.
Serb military shelled earlier this week from Dobratin the Shal& e Bajgor&s
region, straddling the municipalities of Mitrovica, Podujeva and Vushtrri.
Two Albanians were found killed earlier in Dobratin: Fetah Sefer Behrami
(his body mutilated), resident of Ka^anoll village, and Maksut Rekaliu,
native of Dobratin village.
Meanwhile, the bodies of two Albanians killed earlier this week during the
Serb attacks were found today (Saturday) in the village of Ka^anoll of
Shal& e Bajgor&s region, one of them Jashar Behrami (28), the son of Fetah
Behrami.
The Albanian houses have been looted, many of them burned and destroyed in
Dobratin.
The fate of a number of local Albanians is unknown.
LDK forces in Podujeva said Ramadan Behrami (60), Muhamet Fazliu (36),
Rrahim Ramadani (16), Ejup Sejdiu (36), Beqir Lepaja (26), Rrahim Lepaja
(28), Haki Rekaliu (35) and Xhafer Ajvazi have gone missing.
The fate of eight children of the killed Fetah Behrami, whos house has been
burned, is also unknown.
Some eye-witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Serb forces,
while withdrawing from the Dobratin area, had a vehicle carrying several
corpses.
Two cars, with which two of the missing persons had gone to the village to
get their family members out, have been found burned.
[02] Bodies of Two Albanians Found in Ka^anoll Village of Shal& e Bajgor&s
PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - The bodies of two Albanians killed earlier this
week during the Serb attacks have been reported found today in the village
of Ka^anoll of Shal& e Bajgor&s region.
LDK sources in Podujeva said one of them was Jashar Fetah Behrami (28),
resident of Ka^anoll, whose father was slain by Serb forces in the
neighboring village of Dobratin, municipality of Podujeva, earlier this
week. The other killed Albanian has not been identified yet, LDK sources
said.
[03] Serb Forces Burn 17 Albanian Villages in Shal& e Bajgor&s Region
PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - Seventeen Albanian villages have been burned and
destroyed in the three days of Serb military shelling of the Shal& e
Bajgor&s region, an area in the triangle between Mitrovica, Podujeva and
Vushtrri, LDK sources said Friday Serb forces have burned and destroyed 140
Albanian houses in Stari T&rg; 18 in the hamlet of Trep^ali; 85 in
Melenic&; 124 in Bare; 82 in Vidishiq 82; 66 in Reshan; 31 in Maxher&; 54
in T&rsten&; 46 in Mazhiq; 11 in Zjaq&; 25 in Zab&rxh&; 32 in Kutllofc 32;
27 in Kova^ic&; 145 in Bajgor&; 59 in Ka^anoll; 40 in Selac; and 27 in
the village of Dedi.
Thousands of Albanians of this region northwest of Prishtina have been
living rough in the open in the mountains of Shal& e Bajgor&s, with
virtually no food, no medication, and no shelter.
Little children and pregnant women are said to be in a desperate situation
up in the hills.
At least three Albanians have been killed in the Shal& region, local
sources in Mitrovica said Friday without offering specifics.
Three others had been killed on Tuesday. Halim Ferizi (60), his son Enver
Ferizi (38), and a visitor, Rizah Tahiri (55), resident of Selac village,
were killed in the courtyard of Halim Ferizi's house in Stari T&rg.
Two Albanians were slain by Serb forces in the village of Dobratin,
municipality of Podujeva, which is situated in the foot of the mountainous
Shal& region.
[04] A Bit Calmer Situation in Podujeva Area
Schools, closed down in the wake of Serb crackdown earlier this week, will
reopen on Monday PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - The situation in the northern
municipality of Podujeva was returning to some normality in the wake of the
withdrawal of Serb military and police troops from the are of Dobratin, 8
km north of the town.
On Saturday, some people started going back to their homes in the villages
of Bradash, Dobratin, Baj^in&, Pakashtic&, which they had deserted in the
week when the Serb military built up there and started shelling with heavy
artillery in the direction of Shal& e Bajgor&s region.
The victims of Serb terror were buried Friday afternoon in Dobratin, the
village which saw many of its farmhouses looted, burned and destroyed by
Serb troops.
A number of family compounds have been reported looted also in deserted
villages which were not actually attacked by Serb troops.
Two members of the Kosova Parliament, Sabri Hamiti and Rexhep Gjergji,
visited Podujeva on Saturday, and met with local people and activists in
the area.
They called on the displaced population to return to their homes.
Local Albanian education authorities said schools, which were closed down
in the wake of the Serb crackdown, will ne reopened Monday.
[05] Two Boys Died, 4 Wounded in Still Unsolved Explusion, in Prizren
PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - Two Albanian teenagers died and four others were
killed today at Leskovec village of Priozrn when a still unexplained devise
exploded.
The LDK chapter in Prizren said the incident occured today at around
middday at a laocation caled "Kodra e Livanit" (The Livani Knoll) near the
village of residence of the victims.
Betim Xhema (14) and Behar Xhema (12), died at the spot, whereas Nali Xhema
(12), Hashim Kryeziu (9), Milaim Kryeziu (14), amd a fourthe boy whose
identity coukd not be lerned still were serously wounded.
The wouneded boys were taken to the Prishtina hospital in a lofe thretening
condition.
[06] Serbs Burn Farmhouses in C&rnush& Village, Mitrovica
Several hundred displaced Albanians camping out in forests near Vllahia
village PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - Sources in Mitrovica said the Serb
troops entered into the C&rnush& village on Friday, setting ablaze several
Albanian farmhouses. Looting of commodities and domestic appliances
preceded the burning of the houses, witnesses said.
The C&rnush& village is located in the Shal& e Bajgor&s region, a triangle
between the municipalities of Mitrovica, Podujeva and Vushtrri, which bore
the brunt of a heavy Serb offensive earlier this week, leaving several
Albanians dead, thousands of new refugees, and scores of communities
razed.
The LDK chapter in Mitrovica said several hundred Albanians, including
children and women who were driven out of their homes during this past week,
are camping out at Kozmatiq hill near Vllahia village.
Around 500 Albanians, mainly women, children and elderly persons, have been
reported camping in the open in another location called Llamov& near Selac
village sources reported.
The Shal& e Bajgor&s had a population of 19.000 in peacetime, but most of
them have been scattered in relatively safer places, mainly across central
Kosova and Prishtina.
[07] Fifty Hand-Cuffed Albanians Taken to Serb Jail in Mitrovica
PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - 50 Albanians were seen taken to a Serb jail in
Mitrovica today (Saturday) morning.
The LDK Information Commission in Mitrovica quoted witnesses as saying that
the detainees were brought to the town from Peja ('Pec'). They could not
confirm whether they were old prisoners who were being held in Peja, or
else newly rounded up men.
The Commission described the situation in the town today as very volatile.
There has been an increased movement of Serb forces in combat fatigue
roaming the streets of Mitrovica as well the roads leading to the Shal& e
Bajgor& region.
[08] Serbs Go 'Night Hunting' in Deserted Houses of Albanians in Mitrovica
PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - From 2:00 through 4:00 in the morning today,
Serbs broke into several houses of Albanians in Reka village of Mitrovica,
looting whatever could be taken away, witnesses aid.
Most of the Albanian residents of Reka have fled their homes in the wake of
Serb onslaughts in the are during the past days.
The LDK chapter in Mitrovica named several Albanians who had their houses
in Reka village broken into by Serb policemen and civilians: Izet Syla,
Vehbi Syla, Enver Syla, Bedri Syla, Gani Syla, Avni Syla, Rasim Syla, Qazim
Syla, Sabri Syla and Shahin Syla's house.
In addition to pillaging huge amounts of commodities, Serbs smashed and
destroyed what could not be taken away.
[09] Artillery Fire Reported in Suhareka Overnight
PRISHTINA, Sept (KIC) - Serb troops garrisoned in two bases near Suhareka
opened fire on the surrounding villages for over one hour on Friday night.
Fire from artillery guns was opened from Shirok& village and another base
near the "Balkan" motel near Suhareka, which lasted from 23:30 through
after midnight.
The LDK chapter could not confirm whether there were casualties in the
villages hit by Serb artillery shells. It said only that heavy Serb troops
were seen heading for the Reshtan village early afternoon today. By 2 p.m.
it could not tell whether the Serb forces were involved in any attacks
against the Albanian communities in the area.
[10] Serb Burn Houses of Albanians, Prevent Return of Refugees, in Gjakova
PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) - Serb forces have been making it impossible for
displaced Albanians to return to their homes in the Reka e Keqe region in
Gjakova, the local LDK chapter said today.
During the past two days the Serbs burned several houses of Albanians which
had survived Serb bombardments earlier this year in the villages of Koshare,
Morin&, Smolic& and Patok.
All this is apparently aimed at obstructing the return of Albanians, the
LDK said.
At Duzhnje village, Serb troops have been garrisoned in the houses of local
Albanians, Isuf Smajli, Hasan Hoti and Bek& Ademi.
In another village, Rogov& e Hasit, Serb troops have occupied the local
medical center.
Kosova Information Center
|
