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Kosova Daily Report #1655, 99-01-06

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Kosova Information Center <http://www.kosova.com/>

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1655
Prishtina, 6 January 1999


CONTENTS

  • [01] Albanians Assaulted in the Wake of Unsolved Blast in Prishtina
  • [02] Shooting in Mitrovica and Surrounding Villages
  • [03] Serb Forces Fire upon Three Vushtrri Villages Wednesday
  • [04] Serb Forces' Shooting Reported in Malisheva, Klina, Prizren
  • [05] Albanians Arrested by Serb Police in Skenderaj

  • [01] Albanians Assaulted in the Wake of Unsolved Blast in Prishtina

    "Albanians are afraid the Serb regime is shifting the stage of its state terror, targeting the Kosovar towns now", President Rugova's aide says

    PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - On Tuesday evening, just after 20:00 hrs, a hand grenade was tossed at the window of a Serb-run ("007") cafe in downtown Prishtina, capital of Kosova. The grenade exploded outside the cafe, reportedly resulting in three persons being lightly wounded by flying glass.

    In the aftermath of the blast, Serbs in plain clothes, in the full presence of uniformed Serb police just across the street, stormed Albanian cafes and assaulted Albanians who happened to be there.

    Eye-witnesses saw Serb civilians with handguns and even automatic rifles opening fire in the air as well as at Albanian cafes. The windows of a number of Albanian cafes were smashed, and Albanians and others frequenting them were terrified by Serbs.

    Koha ditore daily writes today three armed Serbs yelling last night in front of Albanian cafes, "Izadjite napolje, majku vam jebem siptarsku" [Get out, you fucking Albanians]. The Albanian daily confirms Serbs had opened fire with Kalashnikovs, too.

    Serb police intervened 20 minutes after the blast, whereas the OSCE KVM members 20 more minutes later. The cafes "Mrika", "Morena" e "Queens" suffered damages.

    Serb civilians stopped and beat up Albanians routinely on the streets Tuesday evening, in the area which was sealed off by police till 24:00 hrs.

    Avni Abazi (22), resident of Jabllanica village of Peja, who suffered grave injuries about his face, spoke to the KIC about what Serbs did last night and his own ordeal.

    Abazi, a student with the Albanian-run Academy of Arts at the University of Prishtina, said that he was past the 'Morena' cafe in Dardania neighborhood at 20:15 hrs Tuesday when he was beat up severely by three Serbs.

    He said he had been together with a friend of his, Xhem& Nuredini, resident of Smira village of Vitia, who he lost sight of when Serbs targeted him. Xhem& Nuredini was pursued by Serbs, too.

    The cafe-pizzeria "Mrika" owner, said a group of 30 Serbs with revolvers smashed the windows at 20:30 hrs. He said he got the customers in the basement of the cafe. None of them were injured.

    Avni Hasani, proprietor of "Eris" bar, relayed a similar story.

    Serb civilians smashed up and even looted items in his bar.

    A Serb citizen, Boban Marusic, fired shots today (Wednesday afternoon) in Dardania neighborhood, causing panic amongst the Albanians and damaging two cars near his block of flats.

    Just after 11:00 hrs today, an Albanian journalist saw a Serb civilian openly carrying his Kalashnikov in the Dardania crossroads.

    After having carried a massive ethnic cleansing campaign in the countryside last year, the Serb regime is now targeting the towns and cities in Kosova, Xhemail Mustafa, President Rugova's press advisor said today.

    The mysterious killings and other acts of violence are being orchestrated by the Serb regime so as to create a climate of general insecurity in the town, Mustafa said, referring to the unsolved killings in Kosova this past week, in which ten people were killed. Last night's blast in front of the Serb cafe in Prishtina falls within this pattern, he said, adding that it was exploited by armed Serbs, mainly young, to terrorize Albanians and destroy their property.

    "Albanians are afraid the Serb regime is thus shifting the stage of its state terror, targeting the Kosovar towns now", President Rugova's aide said.

    [02] Shooting in Mitrovica and Surrounding Villages

    Campaign of house raids and ill-treatment of Albanians continues

    PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Heavy shooting from small arms was reported today in the town of Mitrovica and the surrounding villages.

    Serbs opened fire from their military barracks in Mitrovica.

    Shooting was reported also in the neighborhoods of "Kroi i Vitakut", "2 Korriku", "7 Shtatori", "Ibri", "Kodra e Xehetar&ve", "Bair" and in the villages of Suhadoll, Koril, Frash&r i Madh and Frash&r i Vog&l.

    On Tuesday evening, from 17:20 through midnight, gunfire was reported also originating from the Serb military base at Kutllofc village of Shal& e Bajgor&s.

    Scores of Albanians were harassed and ill-treated by Serb police in "Tuneli i Par&" neighborhood in Mitrovica on Tuesday, LDK sources said. Among those who were stopped, had their papers checked and were harassed, were Faruk Spahiu, member of the LDK Presidency, Latif Berisha (62), chairman of the LDK chapter in Mitrovica, as well as local activists Adem Beqiri (48), Shyqri V. Kelmendi (52), Behxhet Osmani (40), Latif Jashari (52), a senior official of the Republican Party (Partia Republikane), Hysni N. Syla (48), a correspondent with the "Kosova sot" daily.

    Serbian police forces have been engaged for days now in a large- scale campaign of raids on Albanian households in Mitrovica.

    Some 30 policemen raided for hours Tuesday the house of Bashkim Morina (30), LDK sources said. Allegedly in connection with arms searches, the house of Behxhet Ahmeti (40) in Zhabar i Ep&rm villages was also raided.

    Police arrested Lam Kurti's children, his daughters Sebahate (16) and Resmije (14) and his son Muharrem (18), yesterday after the house raid. The girls were held for four hours in police detention, whereas Muharrem Kurti is still in custody.

    Meanwhile, the local human rights organization (CDHRF) reported that Afrim Gashi (23), resident of Shtutica village of Gllogovc, who has been sheltered as a refuge in Mitrovica for months, has been missing for a week now.

    [03] Serb Forces Fire upon Three Vushtrri Villages Wednesday

    PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Since 6 o'clock in the morning today (Wednesday), the villages of Okrashtic&, Pantin& and Oshlan, municipality of Vushtrri, were fired upon, presumably by Serbian forces stationed at Frash&r ('Svinjare') village, local LDK sources said late in the monring today.

    A column of Serbian military travelled the Mitrovica-Prishtina roadway at 8:40 a.m. today, whereas another convoy left the Serb army garrison in Vushtrri heading for Mitrovica, the LDK chapter in Vushtrri said.

    The police have been reported ill-treating Albanians in the town of Vushtrri. Near the Vicianum motel, brothers Hashim, Halil and Muharrem Halili were beaten up severely today.

    [04] Serb Forces' Shooting Reported in Malisheva, Klina, Prizren

    PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Heavy small arms shooting by Serbian forces was reported today in the Malisheva area, central Kosova.

    The LDK chapter in Malisheva said Serbian forces stationed at Pishat e Volljakut and the Bauxite mines were shooting sporadically from 4 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. today.

    Serbian forces stationed in the village of Kijev&, straddling the Prishtina- Peja highway, were also engaged in shooting today, causing panic amongst the Albanian population of the villages of Balinc&, Mleqan, Llazic&, Bubavec, LDK sources said.

    Serb forces were engaged in firing in the small town of Klina and the surrounding villages from 4:00 through 9:00 in the morning today.

    The municipality of Klina, the town itself as well as key communications in the countryside, have been under a tight grip enforced by Serb military and police forces, LDK sources said, adding that Albanians are being routinely ill-treated.

    Serbs opened fire overnight in Prizren, LDK sources said.

    Even machine-gun and mortar fire was reported originating from the Serb military garrison in the southern town of Prizren.

    Shooting was heard also in the village of Zhur.

    Serb soldiers and policemen were patrolling the streets in Prizren today, LDK sources said.

    [05] Albanians Arrested by Serb Police in Skenderaj

    Albanian shot and wounded by police in Gjurakovc

    PRISHTINA, Jan 6 (KIC) - Serbian police stopped today Albanian motorists and passers-bye, harassing and ill-treating them, especially near the Game Ammunition Factory in Skenderaj.

    Many Albanians have been reported arrested. Teacher Mon Veliqi and two citizens from Klina are known to be amongst them.

    Meanwhile, sources from the neighboring municipality of Istog said Rasim Rexha, resident of Dobrosh village of Gjakova, who has been staying in Gjurakovc village as a refugee, was shot and wounded in the leg by Serb police Tuesday.

    Kosova Information Center

    Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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