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KDOM Daily Report Released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, November 4, 1998

Compiled by EUR/SCE (202-647-4850) from daily reports
of the U.S. element of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission

November 4, 1998

Tensions between police and KLA are rising in several areas as the KLA becomes more overt and assertive. The KLA is actively recruiting new members and has in the past few days carried out three retribution killings of ethnic Albanians accused of collaborating with Serb authorities during the fighting. Serb police are winterizing many of their positions. They have also created a number of new positions not authorized under the agreements.

KDOM spotted a heavily armed police convoy moving to high ground near Malisevo, an area of particular KLA activity. The convoy consisted of military Land Rovers with guns mounted on roofs, smaller APC's, and civilian vehicles. The passage of the convoy provoked a new outflow of population from Orlate. UNHCR reported seeing another police unit made up of armored vehicles and 80 men moving into a post office in the village of Crmjan. Police reported to KDOM that unidentified assailants opened fire on a Serbian Orthodox church near Opterusa today.

While most of the Kosovar population is now sheltered for the winter and normal activity is returning to towns and villages, the number of potential flash points is increasing.

On the night of November 3, three mine workers were shot at a coal mine near Grabovac. The men were ambushed by KLA, according to mine officials with whom KDOM met. KDOM visited the site of the shooting and observed shell casings and other evidence of the incident. One of the three victims is not expected to live; the other two will probably survive, according to mine officials. In apparent response to the shooting of the three mine workers, UNHCR reports reinforcement of the police presence in Grabovac.

KDOM revisited Zur to investigate reportedly increased military activity in the area. Villagers told KDOM that there had been no VJ presence until 3 days ago. They expressed fear, saying there was nightly firing at the village from nearby hills. KDOM has not confirmed this report.

KLA forces continue to impede freedom of movement in many areas despite KDOM's protest to LDK leader Adem Demaci. KDOM met again with Demaci today. While he said he could not guarantee KDOM's safety, the LDK leader agreed to get the word to his people that KDOM can move anywhere in Kosovo without KLA permission.

Despite the friction between police and the KLA, the civilian population is better off than it was a few weeks ago. Some limited housing repairs are underway in many villages and children are back in schools. NGOs are in full force getting supplies to the returned Kosovars as the weather worsens.

KDOM has 174 Americans and 113 local-hires today.

[End of Document]

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