UNMIK POLICE

DAILY PRESS UPDATE

 

THIS REPORT COVERS 24 HOURS AND HAS BEEN CONCLUDED AT

MIDNIGHT OF

21 FEBRUARY 2000

PRODUCED ON 22 FEBRUARY 2000 BY 1100 HOURS

 

COMPILED BY COMMISSIONERS PRESS OFFICE

BRUCE LLOY

DMITRY KAPORTSEV

SPOKESPERSONS

 

SECURITY OVERVIEW

 

THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS MARCHED FROM PRISTINA TO MITROVICA IN ORDER TO PROTEST AGAINST THE DIVISION OF THE TOWN AND TO DEMAND THE RELEASE OF ALBANIANS FROM SERBIAN PRISONS. IN MITROVICA THE AGITATED MOB CLASHED WITH KFOR TROOPS. FORCE AND TEAR GAS HAD TO BE USED TO PREVENT THE CROWD FROM CROSSING THE BRIDGE.

 

PRISTINA REGION

 

The following incidents occurred on 21 February

 

ASSAULT

At 1300 hrs, a KFOR female Interpreter (Albanian) was assaulted and threatened by a fellow Albanian Interpreter in a KFOR camp in Pristina. The suspect was arrested.

 

FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

At 0730 hrs, an Albanian girl (12 years old) died in a fatal traffic accident near the village of LAPUSHNIK. Another child received grievous injuries and was evacuated to a hospital. The incident occurred when a vehicle slid on an icy road and hit a group of five school children. The driver was detained.

 

The following incident occurred on 22 February

 

SHOOTING/EXPLOSION

At 0200 hrs, on hearing sounds of an explosion, UNMIK Police responded to the scene and found an Albanian male with minor injuries to his legs in Pristina. The preliminary investigation revealed that unidentified suspects shot at a construction site, and on request of his employer, the victim went to the location. At that time, unknown suspects shot at a flammable liquid that caused an explosion and injured the victim.

 

ARRESTS

Three suspects were arrested in Pristina within the past 24 hours. Two suspects were arrested for threatening behavior and one for attempted auto theft.

 

For further information on the above incidents contact UNMIK Police Regional Press.

 

 

 

GNJILANE REGION

 

INTIMIDATION

Fifteen Roma families have been repeatedly threatened in the village of BUJANOVAC. All but three of the families have fled the village. The rest plan to leave in a short while.

 

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

At 2010 hrs, a traffic accident occurred in UROSEVAC involving a UN vehicle and a civilian vehicle. Three persons received minor injuries and were released after receiving first aid.

 

ARRESTS

Six individuals were arrested within the past 24 hours. Four persons were arrested by KFOR for curfew violation. One suspect was arrested by UNMIK Police for theft and another for assault.

 

For further information on the above incidents contact KFOR Press.

 

PRIZREN REGION

 

DEMONSTRATION/BREACH OF NEUTRALITY

AT 1145 hrs, a demonstration attended by 3000 people took place in ORAHOVAC. The demonstration was organized by the “Council of Protest Orahovac” and led by the Mayor of ORAHOVAC. Different banners were shown against the recent incidents which had occurred in MITROVICA and demanding the release of Albanian prisoners from Serbian prisons. About twenty KPC?TMK members in uniform marched towards the podium, built a formation in front of the podium and participated in the demonstration. It was obvious that KPC members participated in the demonstration to express their political opinion in public that could be considered as a breach of political neutrality. The demonstration ended at 1220 hrs without further incident.

 

For further information on the above incident contact UNMIK Police Regional Press.

 

MITROVICA REGION

 

DEMONSTRATION

On 21 February, a demonstration containing thousands of Albanians marched from PRISTINA to MITROVICA with a view to cross the bridge in MITROVICA that separated the two ethnic groups. At the northern edge of the bridge they were confronted by hundreds of Serbs. The procession was escorted by KFOR and was allowed to proceed to a certain location. However, tear gas and force had to be applied to disperse the agitated crowd. At least one UNMI Police vehicle was set on fire by unruly mobs. No further information at the time of this report.

 

For further information on the above incident contact KFOR Press.

 

PEC REGION

 

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS

At 1030 hrs, KFOR arrested two suspects, ethnicity unknown, in possession of a pistol, a machine gun and ammunition in BETICA.

 

ARSON

At 0650 hrs, a fire broke out in one apartment in DAKOVICA. As a result, an old female and a male child died. One seriously injured female was transported to PRISTINA by KFOR helicopter. The cause of the fire has not been determined yet.

 

For further information on the above incidents contact KFOR Press.

 

BORDER POLICE

 

PRISTINA AIRPORT

The Spanish Minister of Defense arrived at the Pristina Airport. He departed by helicopter for a tour to Spanish KFOR AOR.

 

GENERAL JANKOVIC BORDER CROSSING

There are 201 trucks waiting to cross the border with Macedonia. A second queen of 123 trucks is waiting at the intersection to VITINA, between GNJILANE and KACANIK.

 

BORDER CROSSING POINT

STATUS

TIME TO CROSS

FOOT TRAFFIC

CARS

HEAVY VEHICLES NOT  KFOR CONVOY

VEHICLES/

PERSONS NOT ALLOWED ENTRY

GENERAL JANKOVIC

OPEN

3 HOURS

1024

567

407

1/3

GLOBOCICA

OPEN

5 MINUTES

285

71

3

0/0

VRBNICA

OPEN

1 HOUR

341

267

35

20/39

CAFA PRUSHIT

OPEN

5 MINUTES

NO REPORT

0

0

0

 

AIRPORT CIVILIAN FLIGHTS

 

INCOMING PASSENGERS

OUTGOING PASSENGERS

VIP PASSENGERS

201

30

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL KOSOVO INFORMATION

 

WEATHER FORECAST

 

TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2000

Cloudy with some sunny periods and mostly dry after clearing during the day. Moderate winds north to northeast. Minimum temperature will be –6 C, maximum temperature +8 C.

 

WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2000

High pressure moves over the area bringing locally dense early morning fog. Skies will be mostly cloudy through the day. Winds from the north. Minimum temperature will be –9 C., maximum temperature 0 C.

 

THURSDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2000

High pressure continues. Little change. Minimum temperature will be –11 C, maximum temperature 0 C.

 

INCIDENT OVERVIEW OF CASES REPORTED TO UNMIK POLICE DURING THE TIMES OF THIS REPORT COVERING A 24 HOUR PERIOD.

 

INCIDENT

REPORTED CASES

MURDER

0

KIDNAPPING

0

ARSON

1

THREAT/INTIMIDATION

5

GRIEVOUS ASSAULT

0

SIMPLE ASSAULT

3

ILLEGAL HOUSE OCCUPATION

2

ROBBERY

0

BURGLARY

8

THEFT

9

AUTO THEFT

7

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

7

LOOTING

0

RAPE

0

SHOOTING/GUNFIRE

0

BOMB THREATS

0

ILLEGAL WEAPON POSSESSION

1

UXO/MINE/GRENADE

1

PEOPLE INJURED

2

PEOPLE KILLED (ACCIDENTAL)

1

NEW MASS GRAVE SITE

0

MISSING PERSONS

1

DEAD BODIES

0

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

11

CURFEW VIOLATIONS

4

 

ARRESTS

7

DETAINEES

306