The following types of war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law have
been reported as of April 5.
Reports of Serb war crimes in Kosovo -- including forced expulsion of the majority of
the ethnic Albanian civilian population, the detention and summary execution of
military-aged men, rapes, and the destruction of civilian housing -- continued to escalate
over the past week. Serb forces, including Yugoslav Army (VJ) and Serbian Interior
Ministry (MUP) units augmented by armed civilians and paramilitaries engaged in a
systematic effort to deport the Kosovar population from the larger towns and cities.
Especially in the provincial capital of Pristina, where the population was swollen by
ethnic Albanians who had fled the destruction of their homes in the countryside during
Serbian attacks over the past year, the Serbs began to use railroad boxcars to more
efficiently transport their victims out of the cities. Many of these refugees have
reported that Serb authorities forced them to surrender all of their money and sign over
title to their property in the guise of "purchasing" their transportation out of
the province.
We have clear indications of the magnitude and intensity of the Serbian effort against
the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo. At least 560,000 Kosovar Albanians -- over a
quarter of the province's pre-conflict population -- have left the province since the Serb
security crackdown that began in March of last year. Over half of these refugees have been
forcibly expelled into neighboring countries in the last two weeks. We have
incontrovertible evidence of widespread burning in residential areas of most of the larger
towns and cities as well as in numerous villages, and we have confirmed that thousands of
dwellings and cultural symbols such as mosques have been torched. The world has now seen
videotape corroboration of at least one of the many massacres reported to have been
perpetrated by Serb security forces since 24 March. According to a survivor who later
filmed the scene, the ethnic Albanian residents of the village of Velika Krusa were
removed from their homes at gunpoint, the men separated from their families, and the
approximately one hundred adult males summarily executed at point-blank range.
Because the Serbs expelled international observers and most of the nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) and journalists from the province, it has been difficult to obtain
independent corroboration of many of the specific allegations of violations of
international humanitarian law reported in Kosovo. Nonetheless, the overwhelmingly
consistent nature of the thousands of reports from official observers across the border in
Albania and Macedonia, from journalists and NGOs still in contact with their local staff
in Kosovo, and from Kosovar Albanians themselves (both refugees and the Kosovo Liberation
Army- KLA) paint an unambiguous picture of a continuing campaign of brutal ethnic
cleansing by Serbian forces.
The following types of war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law have
been reported in Kosovo:
Forcible Displacement of Ethnic Albanian Civilians
The Serbs are conducting a campaign of forced population movement on a scale not seen
in Europe since the Second World War. They appear to have already driven the bulk of the
ethnic Albanian population from their homes, even though many of them have not yet been
forced out of Kosovo. The Serb claim that this unprecedented population outflow is the
result of voluntary flight in fear of NATO airstrikes is absurd. Refugees consistently
report being expelled from their homes by Serb forces at gunpoint -- in contrast to the
fighting last year, when the bulk of the IDPs and refugees fled voluntarily to escape the
crossfire or to avoid reprisals by Serb security forces.
In contrast to the past year, when Serb tactics in Kosovo were dominated by attacks by
the security forces on small villages, Yugoslav Army units and armed civilians have now
joined the police in systematically expelling ethnic Albanians at gunpoint from both
villages and the larger towns of Kosovo. There are numerous reports from refugees and the
press of Serb forces going house-to-house to rob the residents before looting and burning
their homes. Despite expulsion from their homes at gunpoint, Serbian authorities have been
forcing these refugees to sign disclaimers saying they left Kosovo of their own free will.
Refugees also report that the Serb forces have been confiscating their documentation --
including their national identity papers -- and telling them to take a last look around
because they will never return to Kosovo. Many of the places targeted had not been the
scene of any previous fighting or KLA activity, which indicates that the Serb expulsions
are not part of a legitimate security or counter-insurgency operation, but instead a plan
to cleanse the province of its ethnic Albanian population.
Based on the scope and intensity of Serb activities throughout the province to date, at
least 800,000 Kosovars probably are internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many of them
either are on railroad sidings in Pristina or in other cities awaiting Serb deportation,
are force- marching--sometimes at gunpoint--towards the nearest border, or have fled for
their lives to the remaining--and fast shrinking--areas still controlled by the KLA. At
least 560,000 Kosovars have become refugees in Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro. Over
half of these refugees arrived in the past ten days, with columns of refugees awaiting
processing into Albanian and Macedonia reportedly stretching back nearly ten miles.
Looting of Homes and Businesses
Prior to forced expulsion, Serb forces reportedly looted the homes and businesses of
ethnic Albanians in many towns and villages throughout the province. Serb civilians in the
town of Vucitrn painted a Cyrillic "S" on their doors so that Serb forces would
not attack their homes by mistake.
Widespread Burning of Homes
We have incontrovertible evidence of the burning of residential areas in most of the
larger towns and cities of Kosovo and in many villages. This activity is not only more
extensive than the Serb destruction last summer, it is more thorough. Many settlements are
being totally destroyed in an apparent attempt to ensure that the ethnic Albanian
population cannot return. Serb forces have reportedly burned all houses previously rented
to the OSCE in Vucitrn, Strimlje, and Mitrovica.
Detentions
Refugees have claimed that Serb forces are systematically separating military-aged men
from the groups, and the vast majority of refugees crossing international borders out of
Kosovo -- especially into Albania -- have been women and children. We are gravely
concerned about the fate of the missing men. Their number ranges from a low of tens of
thousands -- looking only at the men missing from among refugee families in Albania -- up
to several hundred thousand, if reports of widespread separation of men among the IDPs
within Kosovo are true.
According to information received by Western human rights organizations, Serb security
forces have also begun taking Kosovar women prisoners in Pristina. There are also
unconfirmed reports that several of the trainloads of IDPs that departed Pristina on 1
April were headed north to Serbia.
The following locations within Kosovo have been reported as the sites of mass detention
facilities: Clodjane. An undetermined number of Kosovars are known to be detained
here.
Glogovac. The Kerro-nickel factory in this town is reportedly being used as a
detention center for a large number of Kosovars, and reportedly was used by the Serbs as a
detention and execution site for ethnic Albanian men and boys during last year 5 security
operation.
Pec. Serb forces are reportedly using the soccer stadium as a detention center.
Pristina. An NGO reported that 10,000-20,000 Albanian men were being detained in
the Sports Stadium Complex, although some ethnic Albanian reports claim it is a temporary
transit center.
Srbica. The press and refugees report that as many as 20,000 ethnic Albanians --
including women and children -- were force-marched from the town of Cirez to Srbica as
human shields for Serb tanks before being detained in a munitions factory.
Vucitrn. An unknown number of Albanians were reportedly herded into a school
here.
Summary Executions
Refugees have provided accounts of summary executions in at least 50 towns and villages
throughout Kosovo. Even with scanty media or outside government access to Kosovo, at least
one report -- the summary executions at Valika Krusa -- appears to have been corroborated.
In addition to random executions, the Serbs appear to be targeting members of the Albanian
Kosovar intelligentsia including lawyers, doctors, and political leaders. KLA political
leaders who attended the Rambouillet talks may have been singled out along with ethnic
Albanians employed by Western media or the Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) and Kosovo
Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM).
Atrocities and War Crimes by Location The following is a partial list of what
appear to be war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law reported
throughout Kosovo since late march 1999: Acareva. Serb forces reportedly burned
this village in the Drenica region on 30 March.
Bela Cervka. Serb forces reportedly killed 35 people, then dumped their bodies
near the Ballaja River between the Rogva and Bela Cervka railroad. By March 28, Serb
forces reportedly had killed as many as 500 civilians in this town.
Cirez. 20,000 Albanian Kosovars were reportedly used as human shields against
NATO bombings.
Dakovica. Over 100 ethnic Albanians were reportedly executed by MUP and
paramilitary units in this city. Seventy bodies were reportedly found in two houses and 33
were found in a nearby river. A prominent local surgeon, Dr. Izet Hima, was murdered. The
men are reportedly being separated from the women and children. All Albanian Kosovars
remaining in the town were warned to leave by 29 March, and Serb forces began burning
ethnic Albanian homes, shops, and markets. Serb snipers reportedly have taken up positions
in downtown buildings.
Glodjane. A large concentration of Kosovar IDPs has been observed in this town
under guard by Serb forces.
Glogovac. The Albanian residential area has been burned, sending displaced
persons into the Cicavica mountains. Glogovac also reportedly houses a mass detention and
execution center for Kosovar men.
Goden. Serb forces executed 20 men, including schoolteachers, on 25 March before
burning the village.
Kltna. The expulsion of the entire ethnic Albanian population began on 28 March,
with Serb forces removing the villagers from their homes and ordering them out of the
country.
Kosovo Polje. Refugees report that some families from this town were burned
alive in their homes.
Kosovska Mitrovica. Serb forces reportedly expelled all Kosovar Albanians from
this town on 23 March. In addition, over 200 Albanian homes and shops have been torched,
and Serb forces reportedly have killed several prominent ethnic Albanians. Latif Berisha,
a poet and President of the Democratic Alliance of the Mitrovica Municipality, was
executed in his home, and Agim Hairizi, Chairman of the Assembly of the Independent
Workers' Union, reportedly was murdered along with his mother and 12-year-old son.
Kuraz. Serb forces reportedly killed 21 schoolteachers in this village near
Srbica. Refugees also claim that as many as 200 ethnic Albanians are being detained there
by Serb security forces.
Likovac. Serb forces reportedly burned this village south of Srbica on 30 March.
Malakrusa. (Krusa-e-Vogel) One hundred twelve men were shot and their bodies
burned in an apparent attempt to conceal the evidence, according to a wounded and burnt
survivor of the executions.
Malisevo. Serb forces reportedly executed approximately 50 men in this town on
27 March. Part of the town was set on fire on 30 March. By April 1 the Serbs appear to
have completed their cleansing, and refugees report that the 50,000-140,000 IDPs in the
Malisevo-Dulje area have been bombed and strafed by Serb aircraft and helicopters.
Mitrovica. Serb forces reportedly looted Kosovar Albanian shops and burned
Albanian homes around a barracks that was targeted by NATO air strikes in an apparent
attempt to blame NATO for the damage.
Orahovac. Refugees have reported that an unknown number of ethnic Albanian
civilians were killed during the ethnic cleansing of the city.
Orlate. According to refugees, this small village located on the crossroads
between Pristina, Pec, and Malisevo was set on fire by Serbian forces on 30n March after
some 200 ethnic Albanian men had been executed.
Pastasel. The bodies of some 70 ethnic Albanians ranging in age from 14-50 were
discovered by IDPs on 1 April. A survivor who sought medical treatment nearby was
reportedly executed by Serb authorities.
Pec. At least 50 ethnic Albanians were reportedly killed and buried in the yards
of their homes on the evening of 27 March. Refugees claim that indicted criminal Zelijko
Raznijatovic (aka Arkan) was responsible for the atrocities. On that same day, ethnic
Albanians were reportedly herded into a five-story building in the center of town, where
MUP forces loaded them on buses and transported then out of the city. On 28 March, 200
ethnic Albanians who sought sanctuary in the Albanian Catholic Church of Pec were removed
and forced out of town. To further terrorize ethnic Albanians, Serbs reportedly looted and
burned homes and shops throughout the town. Serb forces may have expelled 50,000 Albanian
Kosovars from Pec by 31 March.
Podujevo. Serb forces may have executed some 200 military-age Kosovar Albanian
men. In addition, Serbs reportedly removed ethnic Albanians from their cars and shot them
on the spot. Ninety percent of the town reportedly has been burned.
Pristina. Serb forces appear to have completed military operations in the city
and are now focusing on ethnically cleansing the IDP-swollen city. Male ethnic Albanians,
including prominent human rights lawyer Bjram Kelmendi and his two sons, reported have
been executed. Serb paramilitary units have burned and looted Albanian homes and stores
throughout the city. Mixed Serb police and paramilitary units are separating men from
women and children, and Serbs have distributed pamphlets admonishing Kosovars to leave or
be killed. Approximately 25,000 ethnic Albanians were sent by rail from Pristina to
Macedonia on 1 April, and over 200,000 are reportedly detained pending transport. Most of
these IDPs are reportedly without food, water, medicine or shelter.
The civilians are reportedly being processed at the Pristina Sports Complex and then
marched to the train station. Buses and large cargo trucks have also been used to
transport IDPs to within 3-6 miles of the border, where they are left to make their way
out on foot. Refugees report that the ethnic Albanian neighborhoods of Pristina resemble a
ghost town. Pristina police reportedly have arrested as many as 20 former OSCE/KVM local
employees, and authorities are said to be searching for any Kosovar Albanian who held an
official government position, worked for an international organization, or worked with
foreign journalists.
Prizren. Serb forces reportedly executed 20 to 30 civilians and transported
other ethnic Albanians to the border. Serb forces reportedly shelled the downtown area of
this southern Kosovar town. Serb paramilitary units are reportedly operating freely
throughout the town, and according to refugee accounts, Serb authorities are having
difficulty controlling them.
Srbica. Serb forces reportedly emptied the town of its Kosovar inhabitants and
executed 115 ethnic Albanian males over the age of 18. Twenty thousand prisoners are
reportedly housed in an ammunition factory in town.
Rezalla. Serb forces reportedly burned this village south of Srbica on 30 March.
Rogovo. Serb forces reportedly executed at least 50 ethnic Albanians.
Stimlje. Serb forces reportedly burned the headquarters of a human rights
committee and the Democratic League of Kosovo. Serb forces also reportedly burned Kosovar
Albanian homes, stores, and vehicles, and some 25,000 civilians were driven out of the
city to villages to the south. In addition, the building housing the former OSCE mission
reportedly was burned.
Suva Reka. On 25 March, Serb forces reportedly massacred at least 30 Kosovar
Albanians, most by burning them alive in their homes. By 28 March, Serb forces reportedly
burned 60 percent of the town. Serb military and police forces reportedly killed as many
as 350 ethnic Albanians in this town, and Suva Reka reportedly has been
"cleansed" of its Albanian population.
Velika Hoca. Two paramilitary units, Arkan's "Tigers" and the
"White Eagles," are reportedly based in a housing complex in the town and
control the area between Orahovac and Suva Reka.
Velika Krusa. (Krushe-e-Madhe) Reports from refugees in late March that Serb
forces had killed 150-160 Albanian Kosovars and dumped 50 bodies in a mass grave appear to
be corroborated in a videotape shot by a survivor, who also gave the names of two dozen of
the victims. Some refugees allege that homes were set ablaze, burning to death over 60
Kosovars--including women and children. Police reportedly told residents of the nearby
villages of Lashec, Kobanje, and Atmanxha that "as a gift, we will only kill ten of
you," and then told the survivors to "go to NATO."
Vucitrn. On 27 March, Serb forces reportedly killed four young Albanian
Kosovars, including a 14-year-old girl. By 29 March, Serb forces had reportedly herded
Albanian Kosovars into a school in the city, and refugees from the town claim that the men
were being separated from their families. Snipers reportedly have taken up positions
downtown.
Zhuri. On 28 March, local police reportedly ordered all ethnic Albanians to
leave town, and as many as 7,OOO Kosovars may have been displaced as a result.
Zulfaj. Serb forces reportedly expelled all the ethnic Albanian population, then
burned the village.
Zym. Serb forces reportedly have burned this southern Kosovo town.
Document compiled by Dr S D Stein
