Ethnic Cleansing in Kosovo Released by the U.S. Department of State,  Bureau of European Affairs, Washington, DC, March 31, 1999

Reports of Serb war crimes in Kosovo -- including forced expulsions of large segments of the ethnic Albanian civilian population, the detention and summary executions of military-aged men, rapes, and the destruction of civilian housing -- have increased dramatically over the past week. Serb forces, including Yugoslav Army (VJ) and Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) units, have attacked towns and villages throughout the province of Kosovo in a pattern of widespread and systematic violence against the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo.

We have incontrovertible evidence that tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians have been forcibly expelled from Kosovo and that thousands of dwellings have been torched. Due to the removal of western government observers and most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and journalists from the province, it has been difficult to obtain independent corroboration of specific allegations of violations of international humanitarian law 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-UCK) paint an unambiguous picture of an accelerating campaign of ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces in the past week.

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

Forcible Displacement of Ethnic Albanian Civilians

For the past year, Serb tactics in Kosovo were dominated by attacks by the security forces on small villages. While as many as 300,000 people were displaced either internally or abroad at the height of last summer's fighting, the bulk of them left their houses voluntarily, out of legitimate fear for their safety.

Yugoslav Army units and armed civilians have now joined the police in systematically expelling ethnic Albanians from both villages and the larger towns of Kosovo. Many of these places had not been the scene of any previous fighting or UCK activity, which removes any pretense that the Serb expulsions are part of a legitimate security operation. There are numerous reports from refugees and the press of Serb forces going house-to-house to force the residents out at gunpoint before looting and burning their homes.

There have been uncorroborated reports that the majority of the 1.8 million ethnic Albanians in Kosovo may already have been displaced from their homes. The UN High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that Serb forces have forcibly expelled upwards of 70,000 persons into Albania over the weekend and expects another 90,000 may cross over in the next few days. This is in addition to the nearly 20,000 refugees who fled to Albania last year. Although refugees were expelled from their homes at gunpoint, Serbian authorities have been forcing these refugees to sign disclaimers saying they left Kosovo of their own free will.

According to the refugees, 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.

Looting of Homes and Businesses

Prior to the forced expulsions, Serb forces reportedly looted the homes and businesses of ethnic Albanians in at least 20 towns and villages throughout the province. In addition, Serb soldiers have reportedly occupied some Albanian homes at least in Pristina.

Widespread Burning of Homes

Albanian refugees report widespread burning of homes in 13 towns and countless villages throughout Kosovo. This activity is not only more extensive than 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.

Reported Detention of Ethnic Albanian Men

Refugees entering Albania claim that Serb forces are separating military-aged men from the groups. An NGO reports that 10,000 Albanian men may have been herded into the Sports Stadium Complex in Pristina for detention, while the press and refugees report that as many as 20,000 ethnic Albanians were force-marched from the town of Cirez to Srbica and are being detained in a factory.

The vast majority of refugees crossing international borders out of Kosovo have been women and children. We are gravely concerned about the whereabouts and fate of the missing men --numbering at least in the tens of thousands and possibly in the hundreds of thousands.

Reports of Summary Executions

Refugees have provided accounts of summary executions in at least 20 towns and villages throughout Kosovo. Serb forces appear to be targeting members of the Albanian Kosovar intelligentsia including lawyers, doctors and political leaders. In particular, UCK political leaders who attended the Rambouillet talks are being targeted.

Reported Atrocities and War Crimes by Location

The following is a list of the reported war crimes or violations of international humanitarian law that occurred in many of the larger population centers in Kosovo:

Bela Cervka. Serb forces reportedly killed 35 people, then dumped their bodies near the Bellaja River, between the Rogova and Bela Cervka railroad. By March 28, Serb forces reportedly killed as many as 500 civilians.

Cirez. Twenty thousand Albanian Kosovars were reportedly used as human shields against NATO bombings.

Drakovica. Ethnic Albanians have reportedly been executed by MUP and paramilitary units. Seventy bodies were found in two houses. 33 Albanian bodies were found in a nearby river and men are being separated from women and children. A prominent surgeon, Dr. Izet Hima, was murdered. All Albanian Kosovars remaining in the town were warned to leave by 29 March. In addition, Serb forces are burning down ethnic Albanian homes.

Glogovac. The Albanian residential area has been burned, sending displaced persons to the Cicavica mountains.

Goden. Serb forces executed 20 men, including schoolteachers, on March 25. The town was reportedly burned down.

Klina. The expulsion of the entire population of ethnic Albanians in the town began on March 28. Serb forces are removing villagers from their homes and ordering them out of the country.

Kosvoska Mitrovica. Serb forces have reportedly expelled all Albanian Kosovars from this city since March 23. In addition, over 200 Albanian homes and shops have been torched, and Serb forces reportedly have killed prominent Albanian Kosovars. Latif Berisha, a poet and President of the Democratic Alliance of the Mitrovica Municipality, was executed in his home, and Agim Hajrizi, Chairman of the Assembly of the Independent Workers' Union, was murdered with his mother and 12-year-old son.

Orlate. This small village located on the crossroads between Pristina, Pec, Malisevo was reportedly set on fire by Serbian forces on 30 March.

Pec. Serb forces may have expelled 50,000 Albanian Kosovars from Pec. At least 50 ethnic Albanians were killed, then buried in the yards of their homes on the evening of March 27. On the same day, all ethnic Albanians seeking shelter in the Albanian Catholic Church of Pec were extracted and forced out of town. To further terrorize ethnic Albanians, Serbs reportedly have looted and burned their homes and shops throughout the town. Refugees claim that Zeljko Rasznjatovic (a.k.a. Arkan) was responsible for the atrocities.

Podujevo. Serb forces may have executed 200 Albanian Kosovars. In addition, Serbs reportedly are removing ethnic Albanians from their cars and shooting them on the spot. Ninety percent of the town reportedly has been burned.

Pristina. Serb forces have moved into former Albanian Kosovar homes to avoid NATO attacks. Serb forces have also executed male ethnic Albanians, including Bjram Kelmendi, a prominent human rights lawyer, and his two sons. Serb paramilitary units have burned and looted Albanian homes and stores throughout the city. Mixed Serb police and paramilitary units are reportedly separating men from women and children. Serbs are passing out pamphlets admonishing Kosovars to leave or else they will be killed. Fehmi Agani and Venon Surroi, prominent ethic Albanians from Pristina who served on the Rambouillet negotiating team, were reportedly kidnapped and executed by Serb forces, along with the husband and children of Ibrahim Rugova's secretary. As many as 10,000 Albanian Kosovars have reportedly been herded into the city's Sports Complex in downtown. This information has been disputed by an eyewitness, however.

Prizen. Serb forces reportedly transported ethnic Albanians to the border and executed 20 to 30 civilians. At the border, Serb forces confiscated all personal documentation, removed all license plates, and warned them never to return to Kosovo.

Rogovo. Serb forces reportedly executed at least 50 ethnic Albanians.

Srbica. Serb forces executed 115 ethnic Albanian males from the age of 18 and over. Serb forces reportedly are holding 20,000 prisoners in an ammunition factory in town.

Stimlje. Serb forces reportedly burned the headquarters of a human rights committee and the Democratic League of Kosovo. In addition, nearly 25,000 civilians have been expelled.

Suva Reka. On March 25, Serb forces massacred at least 30 Albanian Kosovars, most by burning them alive in their homes. Serb forces have reportedly killed over 100 civilians in the past week, and the town has been "cleansed" of its Albanian population. Sixty percent of the town has been burned. On March 28, Serb forces reportedly encircled the town to conduct operations.

Velika Kruska. Serb forces have reportedly killed 150-160 Albanian Kosovars and dumped 50 bodies in a mass grave.

Vuciturn. On March 27, Serb forces reportedly killed four young Albanian Kosovars, including a 14-year-old girl. By March 29, Serb forces had reportedly herded Albanian Kosovars into a school in the city.

Zhuri. On March 28, local police reportedly ordered all ethnic Albanians to leave town. As many as 7,000 Albanian Kosovars may be displaced as a result.

Zulfaj. Serb forces reportedly expelled all ethnic Albanians from this village, then burned it down.

U.S. Policy

Milosevic's forces are clearly committing crimes against humanity in Kosovo. There are indicators that Yugoslav forces also are engaged in genocide. The departure of international non-governmental organizations, press and other independent sources of information has complicated international efforts to determine precisely the scale of the crimes being committed by Yugoslav forces against ethnic Albanians. International personnel are interviewing refugees to help collect evidence for possible war crimes indictments. We will make a decision on whether Yugoslav actions against ethnic Albanians constitute genocide once we have sufficient information on which to base a judgement.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia will indict those responsible for crimes against humanity and genocide, both of which carry the maximum sentence the Tribunal can impose, life imprisonment. The Tribunal Prosecutor, Louise Arbour, issued a statement on March 31, 1999 announcing the indictment of Zeljko Raznjatovic, also known as Arkan, one of Yugoslavia most notorious warlords. The Prosecutor also announced that her investigation of reports of crimes against humanity in Kosovo is progressing.

The United States reminds those responsible for the actions of the Yugoslav army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kosovo that these attacks directed against the civilian population and the summary execution of detained persons are war crimes under international law. Commanding officers and political leaders will be held responsible for the actions of their subordinates as well as those committing the crime.

Note: Some of this information has not yet been independently verified.

This is an official U.S. Government source for information on the WWW. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.