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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 6, 1998

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

December 6, 1998

The cease-fire holds. No major incidents took place today. Tensions ramain high in several localities, however, including Malisevo, Pec, and Podujevo.

While the area remains generally quiet, KDOM believes the chances are increasing of an incident in Malisevo. As an example, KDOM today witnessed an incident which could have become explosive. While accompanying a police patrol from Orahovac to Malisevo, KDOM saw a car with four armed and uniformed KLA soldiers swerve off the road before the police could intercept them. The patrol continued without incident, but it could have been a serious confrontation.

In Lapusnik, police have built an unauthorized checkpoint and tensions are rising. KDOM raised the issue with police at Lapusnik yesterday with no success. KDOM will press the issue with senior police officials on Dec. 7, and will ask appropriate OSCE authorities also to weigh in.

"Koha Ditore," the Kosovo Albanian language daily which reflects KLA views, reported on December 5 and today two KLA general staff's political declarations. The first document accuses the Serbs of stepping up attacks on civilians but asserted, nevertheless, that the KLA will continue to respect the cease-fire. It adds that the KLA continues its struggle for Kosovo independence. The second document, Declaration #64, reports that the KLA general staff has made a written request to KDOM to effect the removal of police checkpoints and to halt police patrols. It also notes that the killing of a senior KLA official on December 2 in Pristina puts the cease-fire in jeopardy. The killing shows, according to the declaration, that Belgrade does not respect the UN Security Council resolutions on Kosovo. Finally, it calls on all Albanian Kosovars to join the KLA struggle against Serbian rule.

Villagers at Donja Klina (north of Srbica) told KDOM of the shooting today of a man travelling on a horse-drawn cart by police firing from a hill above the road. Two boys on the cart escaped but the man was killed. KDOM observed the body and tried to raise the issue with police at the observation post. They were told, however, that none of the police there were involved and referred KDOM to the headquarters in Srbica. KDOM will meet with the police chief there on December 7 to follow up. KLA personnel are becoming bolder in the Pagarusa Valley where KDOM has observed them emerging almost daily onto main roads.

KDOM will discuss with villagers in Prcevo (SE of Klina) provision of an escort for electrical workers restoring power to the village. Villagers in Vranik reported to KDOM not receiving adequate humanitarian assistance, but that life in the village was slowly returning to normal. In Buda Kova, villagers report their situation precarious due to not having received any humanitarian assistance. In Saraluk (north of Malisevo) a KDOM medic evaluated a 7- year-old boy's health, recommending medical treatment. Villagers were afraid, however, to travel to the nearest medical facility. KDOM will follow up on these humanitarian items.

KDOM operated 24 patrols today with 26 vehicles and 152 personnel.

[End of Document]

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