PRISHTINA, 24 SEPTEMBER 1993

OWEN AND STOLTENBERG SHOULD BE MORE ATTENTIVE OVER KOSOVA, PRESIDENT RUGOVA SAYS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE

'I urge the two co-chairmen of the Geneva Conference, Mr.Owen and Mr.Stoltenberg, to be more attentive over Kosova, considering all the facts of what is happening here, as they are obliged to follow the situation here', Dr.Ibrahim Rugova, President of the Republic of Kosova said at a press conference held today in Prishtina. "A wild campaign of Serbian repression against the LDK activists, characterizes the week we are leaving behind", said Dr.Ibrahim Rugova, adding that Agim Krasniqi, Adem Salihaj, Fazil Maloku, chairmen of the LDK branches, as well as other party activists have been arrested and are being kept in custody with no reason. "Former Albanian army officers and the employees who used to work for the territorial defence have recently become the target of the police arrests, a campaign similar to that against the former Albanian policemen, that has been taking place over the last couple of months", said Dr.Rugova. "Amongst the arrested persons are members of Kosova Parliament, Mehdi Bardhi, Ali Laj

ci and Bajnish Xemajli", said Dr.Rugova, adding that the detainees are subjected to severe tortures in order to forcefully produce statements from them and which could be later used in their trial. "This campaign aims at making them admit that the LDK as the most influential party in Kosova allegedly has its radical wing, so that the peaceful policies of the LDK could be discredited. Furthermore, repression aims at creating a suitable atmosphere for conflicts. These are additional heavy provocations, Dr.Rugova said. Along the line of repression against political parties and activists there is also a line of violence and repression against schools, students and against small businesses. Home searches are continuing, as well as maltreatement of people, etc. Dr.Rugova said. Continuing, President Rugova thanked Amnesty International for its thorough report on human rights violations in Kosova and for raising concern on the situation. He also thanked the German Bundestag for its debate on Kosova some days ago, ur

ging for a presence of international peacekeepers to Kosova. Likewise, he hailed the passing of a resolution by the European Parliament, which calls, amongst other things, for placing Kosova under international protection.

KOSOVA ALBANIAN REFUGEES TO SWEDEN RESUME HUNGER STRIKE, reports indicate

Reports sent to KIC from Sweden indicate that eight Kosova Albanian refugees in Sweden resumed their hunger strike at the Borlangen refugee camp after the Swidish Government did not meet their demands. As reported, the strikers said hoped their status would be clear following a visit to Kosova by a delegation of the Swedish Immigration Board and talks it had with Kosova President, Dr.Rugova early this week.

EFFORTS TO JUSTIFY REPRESSION, A COMMENTARY BY BUJKU

Commenting on the latest Serbian campaign of arresting Albanians, Prishtina-based Bujku, writes in an editorial that most of the arrested persons are activists of Albanian political parties and associations, and even members of the Parliament of Kosova. They are accused with charges similar to those of the past when numberless framed political trials against the Albanians occured, the newspapers says, adding that 'lawyers defending the arrested persons emphasize that there were drastic breaches of the penal procedure law, and that the arrested persons had been undergoing physical torture.' "Along with heavy accustions, the fact that the Serbian propaganda has been refering to the arrested persons as terrorists, while possessing not a single argument, is indicative enough. Terrorism launched by this propaganda and heavy charges that go so far as to indict the Albanians for 'preparations for an armed uprising', and attempts to convince the public opinion on an alleged intention by the Albanians to try to solve

the problem of Kosova through war, are efforts to justify Serbian violence and repression, and are very dangerous tendencis. Furthermore, by the new campaign of arrests and detention, the Serbian police regime wants to further provoke the Albanians into a conflict and break the peaceful political organization of the Albanian in Kosova,' the commentary says. The newspaper concluded that 'violence against the Albanian in Kosova, arrests, searches, beatings and killings, have been intensified particularly after the expulsion of the CSCE mission from Kosova. This is a omen for the days to come in Kosova, in case it remains without an international observation and protection.'

SERBIAN POLICE INTERVENES AT PRISHTINA MARKETPLACE

Heavy Serbian police forces besiged today (Friday) in the morning the Prishtina marketplace. The police undertook a strict scrutify of the people and merchants who happened to be in the marketplace. Many merchants and customers are reported maltreated and confiscated large amounts of goods. The appropriated goods are reported loaded in thelorries and sent to unknown destinations.

OFFICES OF THE LDK BRANCH IN KLINA RAIDED ON

The Serbian police raided on today the offices of the LDK branch in Klina. The police throughly searched the offices and arrested Prenk Gjeta, presidency member of this party branch and another member of the presidency whose name KIC was not able to obtain yet.

It is also reported of an increased engagement of Serbian police forces in the streets of the town of Klina. Many passers-by and shops have been subjected strict inspections.

KOSOVA INFORMATION CENTER