(March 2004, Kosovo) Full reconstruction of the Kosovo pogrom, 15

ERP KIM Info Service has received from well informed international sources in Kosovo a timeline of the incidents and events in Kosovo Province in the period between 15-20 March. At the moment the Diocese is actively collecting all available information on these events in which more than 4.000 Serbs have been left homeless, at least 8 Serbs died and around 30 churches have been either completely destroyed or seriously damaged by Kosovo Albanian mob. All available information and our contacts with different intelligence sources prove that the operation (called by some as Operation Matchstick) was carefully planned beforehand and that behind it are some of the Kosovo Albanian leaders. The fact that some Kosovo Protection Corps officers and members as well as quite a number of Kosovo Police service officials participated in the riots, forcing Serbs out of their homes allegedly to save their lives but in reality to allow the coming crowd to burn their homes was a pattern which could be seen in many parts of Kosovo. According to still unconfirmed information in the clashes between KFOR, UNMIK police with armed Kosovo Albanian rioters and terrorists several internationals have been killed. However the international sources officially still refuse to confirm this information.

Burned Cathedral of St. George in Prizren, 19th century

The Timeline of Kosovo Pogrom 15-19 March 2004

Monday 15 March 2004

Pristina area

1950 hrs: drive-by shooting in Caglavica (just south of Pristina). 19-year-old K-Serbian male hit by three bullets and seriously injured. Victim transported to Mitrovica (North) Hospital. His condition was reported to be life threatening

2100 hrs: in a protest against the incident, 150 K-Serbs from Caglavica block the main Pristina-Skopje road for 2 hours and stone passing vehicles. One K-Albanian vehicle set on fire.

2215 hrs: passing vehicles stoned in the K-Serb village of Gracanica (SE of Pristina). Two vehicles seriously damaged. One K-Albanian driver injured and hospitalised. The roads Pristina - Skopje (at Caglavica) and Pristina - Gnjilane (at Gracanica) remain closed.

Tuesday 16 March 2004

Pristina area

0700 hrs: UNMIK Police & KFOR respond to several road blockades conducted by K-Serbian demonstrators protesting against drive-by shooting in Caglavica on 15/03. Demonstrators block main road Pristina to Skopje and the road to Gracanica village (7 km SE of Pristina).

0930 hrs: 200 K-Serbian protestors from Laplje Selo (SSW of Pristina) march towards Caglavica to join blockade. 40 K-Albanians block the road in Kisnica village and issued threats towards minorities (8 km SE of Pristina).

1000 hrs: for 2 hours, 30 K-Serbian demonstrators block the road through the Suvi Do village (3 km NNW of Lipljan)

1100 hrs: K-Serb demonstrators assault UNMIK Police International officer and damage UNMIK Police vehicle. The officer is hospitalised & released.

1700 hrs: situation brought under control – UNMIK & KFOR vehicles move freely – roads still closed to all civilian traffic.

Podujevo, Obilic, Pristina, Stimlje

A total of about 2,600 persons peacefully demonstrate in support of recently arrested former KLA members.

Novo Brdo, Gnjilane, Vitina, Urosevac, Kacanik

About 8,000 persons peacefully demonstrate in support of recently arrested former KLA members.

Malisevo, Orahovac, Suva Reka, Prizren, Dragas

About 1,900 persons demonstrate in support of recently arrested former KLA members. The demonstrations are peaceful except in Prizren town, where a group of demonstrators stones UNMIK HQ facilities. UNMIK Police International officer slightly injured & UNMIK Police vehicle sustains minor damage.

Istok, Pec, Klina, Decani, Djakovica

A total of about 4,000 persons peacefully demonstrate in support of recently arrested former KLA members.

Mitrovica Region (6 km ESE of Zubin Potok)

1745 hrs: 4 K-Albanian children reported missing having gone to the riverside. During the rescue operation, one child is retrieved from the river and hospitalised. Three others could not be found (all were later discovered to have drowned). K-Albanian media instantly blames K-Serbs. Allegation that children were chased by K-Serbs found to be false.

Wednesday 17 March 2004

Pristina

K-Albanian demonstrators attempt roadblock southern edge of city & turn violent
UNMIK police & KPS patrols assaulted & stoned
3 UNMIK vehicles set on fire
1,500 K-Albanians protest in front of UNMIK HQ.
22.00 hrs +:
Protestors stone UNMIK HQ (non-essential personnel already evacuated)
3 UNMIK Police vehicles set on fire near Grand Hotel
K-Serb apartment block attacked with stones, firearms, petrol bombs – 4 K-Serbs killed
KFOR & SPU intervene – apartment block evacuated – apartments set on fire
Police vehicle & a number of other vehicles set on fire
UNMIK police officer shot and injured
Numerous shots and blasts around Pristina centre.
Caglavica
1,000 K-Serbs block road in protest against shooting incident 15/03
K-Albanian protestors proceed towards Caglavica from Pristina to confront K-Serbs
KFOR/SPU attempt to keep crowd separated – K-Albanians outflank & penetrate
Police Officer opens fire into crowd (casualty numbers not known)
Vehicle drives into KFOR checkpoint – 3 soldiers injured – KFOR soldier opens fire killing K-Albanian motorist
K-Albanian mob attack and burn K-Serb houses (11 houses burned)
Approx 100 civilian casualties
UNMIK & civilian vehicles & KFOR APC set on fire.
Kosovo Polje
K-Albanian crowd attacks K-Serb houses – several set on fire
K-Serb hospital, school and post office set on fire
UNMIK cars and ambulance damaged and burned
Orthodox Church attacked but effectively defended by K-Serbs
K-Serb male beaten to death & several others injured during rioting
UNMIK international police officer injured
130 K-Serbs shelter in police station.
Podujevo
Crowd of 2,000 protestors gather
Rocks thrown at police station – cars damaged – Police Officers threatened.
Lipljan
K-Albanian crowd effectively contained by police – KPS Officer shot by protestor
Several K-Serb houses set on fire – protestor stone police & K-Serbs
K-Albanian male shot and injured by K-Albanian KPS Officer who is surrounded by crowd
Dead body found in yard of burning house.
Stimlje
K-Albanian crowd stones Police and KFOR
K-Albanian KPS officer shot and seriously injured
House set on fire.
Kamenica
K-Albanians protestors attack K-Serbian locations with stones
Municipal Building attacked
UNMIK vehicle set on fire & 6 others damaged – two K-Serbian cars destroyed
UNMIK International Police officer; 3 K-Albanian KPS officers & K-Serb male injured.
Gnjilane
2,500 K-Albanians stone UNMIK Regional HQ breaking several windows
KFOR and Police secure the location
4 vehicles set on fire, including one KFOR vehicle
KFOR soldiers attacked with rocks
UNMIK Police vehicle overturned and others set on fire at Regional Police HQ
Two K-Serbian houses set on fire
300 persons stone & attempt to break into the UNMIK Logistical Base
UNMIK vehicle damaged entering town, then set on fire near UN Logistics Base
One UNMIK International Police Officer injured during day
K-Serbian male killed – 30 local civilians injured
8 houses set on fire – 3 UNMIK vehicles totally destroyed, several others damaged.
Vitina
K-Albanian crowd rampage
UNMIK vehicle & 4 K-Serbian cars damaged
4 K-Serbian houses set on fire & Orthodox Church badly damaged
One person injured
Police evacuated several K-Serbian families to safer locations.
Urosevac
2,000-3,000 K-Albanians riot in town, throwing rocks & burning vehicles
3 hand grenades thrown at Serbian Orthodox church – church set on fire
Several explosions & automatic gunfire
12 KPS officers were injured - 1 civilian killed
Greek KFOR attacked – assisted by US KFOR
1 Greek KFOR vehicle burned.
Kacanik
500 K-Albanians block main road & stone KFOR
One Polish KFOR soldier injured
KFOR fire warning shots to disperse the crowd
Automatic gunfire & hand grenade explosion heard
Orahovac
UNMIK vehicle overturned during riot
House looted and set on fire – several other houses damaged
One person injured.
Suva Reka
500 K-Albanians chanting “UNMIK out” remove UN flag from Municipal Building
Police intercept them & flag is retrieved.
Prizren
2,000 K-Albanians stage violent protest outside UNMIK Regional HQ
3-4 houses close to UNMIK Regional HQ burned
Orthodox Seminary in town centre & 3 Orthodox churches set on fire
Five UNMIK vehicles damaged.
Istok
Crowd block roads inside town with garbage bins, large vehicles & wooden electric poles
One UNMIK vehicle burned & another damaged.
Pec
500 K-Albanians gather in town centre next to UNMIK Regional HQ
UNMIK personnel evacuate to UNMIK Log base
One UN vehicle set on fire, 2 others damaged
Regional HQ building damaged.
Belo Polje (2 km S of Pec)
K-Albanian protestors attack K-Serbian returnee site in village of Belo Polje
KFOR assist in the evacuation of approx 200 K-Serbs
Twelve K-Serbs injured during evacuation
UNMIK car damaged
15 K-Serbian houses looted & set on fire
K-Albanian male shot & killed by female UNMIK International Police Officer following a direct attack against her.
Decani
K-Albanians attempt to attack Orthodox Monastery in order to set it on fire
Nine K-Albanians shot & injured
Two UNMIK vehicles damaged, one set on fire.
Djakovica
Police & KFOR evacuate group of people gathered inside Orthodox Church
Rioters burn the Church afterwards
3 UNMIK vehicles set on fire, another damaged
UNMIK International Police officer assaulted, seriously injured & his service pistol taken.
South Mitrovica
5,000 K-Albanians peacefully demonstrate re missing K-Albanian children in Zubin Potok area (during night 17-18/03, 2 children bodies recovered – third child remained missing)
Mitrovica centre
800 K-Albanians forcibly enter Main Bridge, throwing stones & breaking barricades
UNMIK Police reinforced by SPU – tear gas used to disperse crowd
Crowd become violent – several UNMIK vehicles damaged – UNMIK bus set on fire
Shooting & explosions heard on both sides (automatic weapons & hand grenades used)
Police reinforced by KFOR & situation brought under control
4 K-Serbs killed & about 50 injured
4 K-Albanians killed & about 160 injured
4 UNMIK International Police officers, 8 SPU officers, 12 KPS officers and 13 KFOR personnel injured
Eleven UNMIK vehicles damaged & 2 set on fire.
Vucitrn area
Six K-Serbian houses set on fire in villages of Banjska & Slatina
Two victims injured
UNMIK car and KFOR vehicle damaged.
Thursday 18 March
Pristina
More attacks against evacuated K-Serb apartment building – SPU keeps rioters back
1,000 K-Albanians hold peaceful protest outside Assembly Building
KPS officer killed 8 km west of Pristina
Hand grenade thrown into French Liaison Office compound – grenade fails to explode
KFOR prevent attempt to break through to Caglavica – 4 K-Alb injured by warning shots
Person threatens bomb within Pristina if Pristina-Skopje highway not opened – hoax call
UNMIK vehicle set on fire in front of the Police Main HQ
Rioters attack Old Orthodox Church in Taslixhe – automatic gunfire in area
Orthodox priest & 5 K-Serbian families evacuated by KFOR from Old Orthodox Church
SPU officer shot & injured during attempt to secure Old Orthodox Church
Police use tear gas to disperse rioters (area of EAR office building)
Orthodox Church, UN Habitat office & 3 UNMIK Police vehicles set on fire
Armed & masked persons rob 2 residences of UNMIK international staff members.
Caglavica
K-Albanians resume riot by blocking the Pristina-Skopje highway
Reach strength of about 1,500 persons throughout the day
UNMIK Police, SPU and KFOR defend approaches to Caglavica village
Tear gas used occasionally – highway closed all day.
Kosovo Polje
Hand grenade explodes close to Police Station
K-Serbian house set on fire
Second hand grenade explosion reported
House rented by UNMIK International Police officer set on fire & destroyed.
Obilic area
Orthodox Church, numerous K-Serbian houses and apartment blocks set on fire
200 K-Albanians repeatedly attack Police Station – firearms used – KPS officer wounded
47 K-Serbs, who found refuge at Police Station, evacuated to safe location
KFOR escort attacked and fired upon during the rescue operation
Numerous K-Albanians besiege minority village of Plementina (6 km NE of Obilic)
K-Serbian population evacuates to UNMIK TSS compound
Crowd attempts to set local Police station on fire.
Pristina airport
0805 hrs: closed to all incoming civilian flights
Gate 3 boundary crossing (Merdere)
300 Serbs attempt to enter Kosovo from Serbia proper – initially prevented
Crowd of K-Albanians move towards on Gate from Podujevo
Border/Boundary Police personnel forced to temporarily evacuate.
Podujevo
Orthodox Church set on fire
International Police evacuate Police Station, under threat of direct attack.
Glogovac
800 K-Albanians demonstrate, block road & damage UNMIK vehicle
Lipljan
1,000 K-Albanians besiege Police Station (1600 hrs)
Device explodes behind Police Station
K-Albanian male, injured during protest 17/03, dies in hospital
Rioters destroy Monument
K-Serb male, whose house is on fire, shoots and injures K-Albanian female
Up to 15 explosions reported in the area
Two K-Albanian males and one K-Serbian male found dead
Eight K-Serbs houses set on fire
KPS officer shot & seriously injured – 2 UNMIK International Police Officers injured
2 UNMIK vehicles damaged.
Lipljan area
K-Albanian population of Rabovce village (ethnically mixed) leave village in anticipation of attacks against K-Serbs
Sporadic shootings reported in Stari Gracko village & in the area until midnight
K-Serb community refuse KFOR evacuation – request KFOR control access to village.
Stimlje
K-Serbian house & Orthodox Church set on fire
Additional 4 K-Serbian houses looted & set on fire.
Novo Brdo area
During the night:
Hand grenade thrown into house of local Municipal President (K-Serbian male)
KPS patrol attacked with hand grenade & automatic weapons – no injuries reported
Attempt to set Municipal Building on fire – local security guards extinguish fire.
Kamenica
KFOR use tear gas to disperse 200 K-Albanians gathering at edge of K-Serb area.
Gnjilane area
Crowds build up inside & around the town (1200 hrs)
3,000 K-Albanians engage KFOR & Police in town
Ground & air KFOR units use tear gas to keep the situation under control
5 unexploded Molotov cocktails found in UNMIK Regional HQ building
Police Station stoned
Hand grenade explosion injures 2 males in Cernica village
K-Serbian cemetery vandalised – several K-Serb houses set on fire – 3 persons injured
Hand grenade explosion injures 4 K-Serbs
Throughout day, 50 K-Albanians arrested for looting & burning houses.
Vitina
300 K-Albanians set 7 K-Serbian houses on fire – about 25 K-Serbs evacuated
K-Albanian male assaults German female national
Urosevac area
1,500 K-Albanians rampage – burn Orthodox Church & up to 5 K-Serb houses in town
K-Albanian crowd attempts to set Orthodox Church on fire in K-Serb village of Talinovce
Tear gas used to disperse crowd
Church was set to fire (1749 hrs) – 5 K-Albanian males arrested.
Orahovac area
400 K-Albanians participate in peaceful demonstration in town
Orthodox Church set on fire & destroyed in Brnjaca village.
Prizren
6 buses of K-Albanian males stopped while attempting to join demonstration in Pristina
2,000 K-Albanians take part in wreath-laying ceremony at KLA monument
Participants then attack UNMIK Police Regional HQ with stones
10 UNMIK cars & 3 KPS vehicles damaged
Police Station attacked – KPS & SPU respond – 3 SPU officers injured in clashes
600 protesters continue to stone UNMIK Police Regional HQ
Archbishop seat, Archangel Monastery, an Orthodox Church and Orthodox Seminary set on fire & destroyed
Eleven K-Serbs evacuated from town to KFOR compound.
Istok area
Explosion at Police station car park – two vehicles destroyed
Explosion in Orthodox Church, Baja village
Riot in Dubrava Prison – 2 prisoners injured
500 K-Albanians demonstrate in Istok town – no significant incidents
Pec
1,500 K-Albanians block town centre & UNMIK HQ, chanting anti-UNMIK slogans
Juveniles stone UNMIK HQ building & break several windows
2 houses set on fire in the area – 2 KPS cars looted & damaged.
Pec area
Looting & arson continues in K-Serb village of Belo Polje
Sporadic shooting heard in K-Serb village of Gorazdevac.
Klina
500 K-Albanians attempt to march into K-Serb villages of Bica & Grabac villages
Prevented by KFOR &UNMIK Police
KFOR evacuate 35 K-Serbs by helicopter from the villages
4 K-Serbian houses set on fire in Bica village – sporadic shooting in several villages.
Decani
1,400 K-Albanians protest in town centre – several UNMIK cars set on fire
2 KFOR platoons take position in Orthodox Monastery – shooting heard.
100 protestors start to march towards Monastery
March stops after intervention of Municipal authorities & UNMIK Police.
Djakovica
Rioters remove debris of destroyed Orthodox Church with trucks & trailers
Houses set on fire
Approx 5,000 K-Albanians participate.
Mitrovica area
Crowds form on southern side of Main Bridge (1000 hrs)
Water level raised artificially in Ibar River to create additional barrier
K-Albanians threaten to arrange additional protests
Molotov cocktails thrown into perimeter of KFOR-guarded Orthodox Church in South
Church & several neighboring houses set on fire
Local Fire Brigade fight house fires but not Church, which is severely damaged
Crowd stones OSCE Field Office & car park – windows broken & cars damaged
K-Albanians attack UNMIK HPD office & assault personnel – KFOR intervene
2 K-Serbian male dead bodies found in village of Svinjare
3 grenades thrown at KFOR troops in 3 Towers area (North) – no injuries reported
Sporadic shooting in same area – KFOR ordered to return fire in case of direct attacks
About 300 K-Serbs sheltered in KFOR compounds
KFOR soldiers engage & kill sniper in 3 Towers area.
Vucitrn area
Body of K-Albanian male found in river 5 km SW of Vucitrn
K-Serbian male inhabitants of Gojbulja village refuse evacuation, display weapons & declare that they will defend their village – women & children evacuated
Orthodox Church set on fire in Vucitrn town – several K-Roma houses damaged.
100 K-Serbs take refuge in local Police Station.
Srbica
2,000 protestors gather and move towards Devic Monastery
Five K-Serbian nuns evacuated from area
Violent protestors set Monastery on fire.

Friday 19 March 2004
Pristina
UNMIK car & UNMIK Police vehicle found vandalised and burned
UNMIK traffic halted following 2 shooting incidents against UNMIK Police patrol
KPS prevent looting of abandoned K-Serb apartments by K-Albanian youths.
Prime Minister calls for citizens of Kosovo to contribute to normalisation of situation
Caglavica
No significant incidents.
Gracanica
Substantial KFOR presence throughout the day.
Kosovo Polje
One abandoned K-Serbian property set on fire
MSU deployed to the area.
Obilic
Several recently abandoned K-Serbian houses set on fire
13 K-Romas evacuated from local school
2 grenade explosions heard in Crkvena Vodica village.
Pristina Airport
0805 hrs: Normal civilian air traffic resumed.
Gate 3 Boundary crossing (Merdere)
UNMIK Border/Boundary Police personnel return & resume duties (1830 hrs, 18/03).
Several buses with Serbian males from Serbia proper attempt to enter Kosovo – prevented by Border & Boundary Police with KFOR assistance.
18 km SE of Podujevo
Group of K-Serbs attack K-Albanian houses in boundary area & set them on fire.
20 km SE of Podujevo
Abandoned K-Serbian house set on fire.
Lipljan area
Several house fires reported
300 K-Serbs return to Robovce village.
Stimlje
All K-Serbian families evacuated from the town
3 K-Serbian houses & one K-Serbian-owned barn set on fire
KFOR prevent Orthodox Church being set on fire – 21 gas bottles removed from Church.
Gnjilane
100 K-Albanians gather in the town & set K-Serb house on fire
KFOR detain approx 50 K-Albanian males preparing to stage rally
Bus with incoming protestors intercepted while approaching the town
UNMIK evacuate international staff from Regional HQ building to Logistic Base
KPS patrol attacked with hand grenade & automatic weapons – police return fire – no injuries
2 abandoned K-Serbian houses set on fire.
Orahovac
Abandoned Orthodox Church set on fire (2230, 18/03) – local Fire Brigade extinguish fire.
Prizren
400 protesters with anti-UNMIK slogans approach UNMIK Regional HQ
KFOR deploy – international personnel relocate to UNMIK Logistical Base
Body discovered in burned ruins of Orthodox Seminary
2 K-Albanian males arrested after setting fire to K-Serb house & robbing/injuring (with knife) K-Serb female owner
2 K-Albanian males arrested for rioting, instigating stoning of UNMIK Regional HQ & inflicting injury to Police officers

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.