29

In addition to shelling and clashes between the Serbian/FRY forces and the UCK, it was becoming apparent that large-scale looting was being engaged in by the MUP. Once a village was abandoned by its inhabitants, troops would take whatever property of value they could find and it is believed that this practice was permitted as a method of supplementing the insufficient wages paid to the ordinary MUP forces. Furthermore, after such plunder of property had taken place, houses were often set on fire by these same MUP forces.

At the beginning of June, the offensive in the border region, between Decane and Djakovica, continued. Rastavica was observed by the ECMM being shelled and VJ troops were seen torching a house. Smoke was also seen coming from Prilep and reports from local sources stated that several houses in Junik were in flames. Allegations that helicopter gunships were being used in the border area to fire upon fleeing refugees and VJ planes used to attack villages, began to be made in the Kosovar media. Popovac, Smonica and Morina were being subjected to artillery fire, including from tanks, and it appeared that the UCK were returning fire to a limited extent. By 9 June, the VJ operation in this area appeared to be reducing, although fires were clearly observed to be still burning in Popovac and VJ tanks were patrolling throughout. The town of Decane itself bore the evidence of heavy fighting, many houses being destroyed. Albanian border guards reported to the ECMM that VJ forces had been firing with tanks and mortars and using illuminating devices at night to light up their targets along the border. In addition, on 15 June, ECMM monitors stationed in Albania observed the shelling of the border villages of Novo Selo, Zndrelle and Kramavik.

Despite the VJ and MUP actions, the territory under the control of the UCK had expanded by mid June and for a short period the Serbian police could not hold the main artery between Pristina and Pec. The UCK quickly established their own check-points here and on the road between Suva Reka and Orahovac. Direct clashes between the UCK and the Serbian/FRY forces increased greatly at this time, while international observers and humanitarian organisations were denied access to the main areas of conflict.

Around Stimlje, further to the east, the presence of VJ and MUP forces increased at this time. The nearby village of Crnoljevo was clearly deserted, while ECMM noted the presence of bullet case and anti-aircraft shell cases on the road, and 50% of population of Suva Reka had also fled. Among the local Kosovar population there was much concern about reports of the presence of Serbian "paramilitary forces" in Suva Reka and Dulje. While the UCK "liberated territory" had extended from Suva Reka to Malisevo, Srbica was still under the control of the Serbian/FRY forces and Glogovac had been deserted. Reports indicated that many Kosovars who had fled the Klina area had moved into those parts of Drenica within the "liberated territory".

By the end of June significant areas of central Kosovo were in UCK control, rendering the