46
 
Prizren, some in the jail and others in the Central Hospital. Some of those who had been released told KDOM that, when they were detained, the MUP Deputy Commander from the Prizren area, "Captain Milan Sipka", presented them with an ultimatum to the effect that if they did not hand in their weapons within 8 days they would all be "burned". The deadline was thus to expire on 8 October.

On 30 September, KDOM was itself able to observe the shelling of Sajtuk Mah, Krusica and Budakovo and it could also see smoke and flames rising from the whole area. After the attack, KDOM estimated that Vranic was around 80% destroyed and Savrovo around 70% destroyed.

The above-described events appear to illustrate that Serbian/FRY forces took part in, inter alia,

  • Indiscriminate shelling, resulting in the killing and injury of civilian persons;
  • Sniping and shell-fire directed at civilians and civilian dwellings;
  • Attacks on undefended towns;
  • Deliberate, malicious destruction of private property;
  • Plunder of private property.
  • Arbitrary and unlawful confinement of civilians
  • Intimidation, humiliation and mistreatment of civilians, possibly including rape

The 549th Motorised Infantry Brigade, based in Prizren, was the closest VJ Brigade to this area of operations and it is possible that it was utilised for the artillery bombardment of the relevant villages. Once again, these VJ forces, or any others that were utilised, were subject to the overall command of General Pavkovic of the Pristina Corps.

The closest SUP is located in Prizren, with a sub-station in Suva Reka, and it seems clear from the accounts of witnesses that the Prizren MUP played a role in these attacks. The name Milan Sipka arises as a MUP officer in a position of some command here, as well as one Dobri Vitosevic and, again, General Lukic was the commanding officer for all regular MUP formations throughout Kosovo. It would appear also from the witness accounts that some JSO units may have been involved.

(iii) Attacks in the border regions in August and September

Since May of 1998, control of the town of Junik alternated between the UCK and the Serbian/FRY forces. On many occasions, access to this area was denied to KDOM and other members of the international community, although ECMM observers in northern Albania were often able to see and hear the shelling and destruction being visited upon the border villages. On 5 August, in particular, observers note the shelling of Junik, which involved the use of multiple rocket launchers and continued over an extended period. This offensive incorporated many other villages in the vicinity over the following weeks and Junik itself was held in siege for several days, while the surrounding MUP and VJ forces warned of the complete destruction of the town, should any attempt be made to attack their lines. On 9 August, shelling was heard in the vicinity of the village of Rznik, from which KDOM observed convoys of Kosovar IDPs departing in open trailers. The ECMM reported that the final assault on Junik came on 12 August and the town was abandoned by both the local