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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, December 3, 1998

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

December 3, 1998

For the twelfth consecutive day the tense Malisevo area has remained quiet. KDOM accompanied routine police patrols in the area from Orahovac through Malisevo to Rastane. No incidents or cease-fire violations were noted anywhere today. The police in Stimlje told KDOM that the KLA had not attacked them since the cease-fire was worked out on October 25.

In contrast to Malisevo, tensions are now building in the Pec-Djakovica-Decane area. The killing of two policemen near Prilep on November 20, and the incident where police killed a KLA member near Rakovina (NE of Djakovica) have contributed to the growing tensions. In Prilep police were out in force today, including 30 heavily-armed personnel accompanied by armored vehicles patrolled the town. In meetings with senior KLA commanders today KDOM said KLA bears major responsibility for the increased tensions. The commander acknowledged this and undertook to bring local commanders into alignment with the KLA's self-restraint policy. KDOM continues working hard with both police and KLA to defuse the situation and is closely monitoring both groups. At Junik (south of Decane) KDOM saw a T-55 tank behind a school, with guard posts at each end of the school property.

KDOM learned from a well-informed source that the killing of three individuals in Pristina yesterday (see KDOM Daily 12/2/98) may have included a member of the KLA general staff. The source claimed that the FRY secret police were behind the shootings. A senior KLA official speaking with KDOM today seemed to know nothing about a senior official of his organization having been one of those killed. If the story is true, the assassination may have serious consequences on the cease-fire and on security in Pristina. At this point, however, the report is not confirmed.

OSCE conducted an investigation today of a report that the Border Police killed eight "terrorists" in a firefight on the Albanian border. Police reported the incident took place southwest of Prizren on November 28.

KDOM visited Balince today to investigate the report of a KLA roadblock being established there. Villagers denied knowledge of any roadblock but spoke of police harassment at a local bus stop. Reports yesterday of police firing on a "runner" of a Balince checkpoint were modified today when a senior police source said that they did not kill the person. Rather, at a KLA roadblock the KLA fired on a vehicle and killed an ethnic Albanian. KDOM will follow up to try to determine facts of the incident.

The police commissioner in Orahovac invited KDOM to bring any questions concerning welfare and whereabouts of missing residents to his attention. The commissioner provided KDOM with data on three individuals held in Prizren.

KDOM visited 3-400 people living in an area west of Urosevac without electricity or adequate food due to harvests being interrupted by fighting. They have gotten some help from NGOs but not recently.

KDOM ran 17 patrols today with 169 people and 26 vehicles.

[End of Document]

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