Ethnic Cleansing in Kosovo Released by the Department of State, Washington, DC,  April 8, 1999

This report provides a daily update to a summary on ethnic cleansing in Kosovo produced each week. The last summary report was published on 5 April.

The following types of war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law have been reported in Kosovo since 6 April:

Forcible Displacement of Ethnic Albanian Civilians

Serb authorities on 6 April announced a unilateral ceasefire and ordered the border crossings with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania sealed. Refugees reported that Serb security forces blocked the exit routes and ordered those still in Kosovo to return to their homes. It is unclear whether these internally displaced persons in fact have homes they can return to, in light of extensive Serb burning of Kosovar houses. Unconfirmed reports from ethnic Albanians claim that Serb security forces shelled some refugee concentrations in various parts of Kosovo.

Widespread Burning of Homes

The burning of residential areas in the larger towns and cities of Kosovo is continuing. A NATO spokesman noted that as many as 50 villages have been torched since 3 April.

Summary Executions

Mass executions continue to be reported by Kosovar Albanian refugees from throughout the province and they have reported mass graves in Drenica, Malisevo, and the Pagarusa valley.

Incidents by Location: Morina. Refugees claim that on 7 April Serb security forces laid mines at this main border post between Kosovo and Albania to prevent refugees from crossing. A few refugees who were able to cross reported that the road leading to the post was empty for several miles into Kosovo apart from a number of burnt out vehicles.

Pristina.On 2 April, a Kosovar Albanian claims to have seen three truckloads of dead bodies accompanied by three or four armored vehicles in a graveyard in Pristina.