Bombing of a Refugee Column
on the Djakovica-Prizren Road
14 April 1999

Refugee convoy, civilian casualties - a drastic example

On April 14, 1999, between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., on the Djakovica-Prizren road, near the villages of Madanaj and Meja, a convoy of Albanian refugees was targeted three times. Mostly women, children and old people were in the convoy, returning to their homes in cars, on tractors and carts. The first assault on the column of over 1,000 people took place while they were moving through Meja village. Twelve persons were killed on that occasion. The people from the convoy scattered around and tried to find shelter in the nearby houses. But, NATO warplanes launched missiles on those houses as well, killing another seven persons in the process. The attack continued along the road between villages Meja and Bistražin. One tractor with trailer was completely destroyed. Twenty people out of several of them on the tractor were killed. In the repeated attack on the refugee vehicles, one more person was killed. The total number of killed in this attack was 73, whereas 36 were wounded.

 

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat of the Interior in Djakovica
Dispatch No. 2583/99
14 April 1999
Djakovica

Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia
- Criminal Police HQ
- Police HQ
- Operations Center
B e l g r a d e

Ministry of the Interior HQ
P r i š t i n a

On 14 April 1999 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., the criminal NATO forces committed an air assault on a column of refugees - members of the Albanian ethnic community, which moved from the direction of the village of Junik, Dečani Municipality, by a country road, through the villages of Šeremet, Racaj, Madanaj, Meja, and further through Brekovac and the town of Djakovica, towards the village of Bistražin, Djakovica Municipality. The refugee column moved in an organized fashion, on tractors and trailers.

The air strike occurred while the column moved on a country road through the village of Meja. The pilots from several criminal planes struck the column with missiles, killing 12 civilians, mainly women and children.

After the first missile was fired, the survivors in the column abandoned the vehicles and ran towards the nearby house of Sadrija Hasanaj, where they sought refuge.

Having seen where the people sought shelter, the pilots of the criminal NATO alliance struck the mentioned house, adjoining buildings, farm machinery and vehicles in the house yard, killing another seven persons and wounding many. We found six wounded persons on the site, while others ran in fear to nearby woods, together with persons who remained unharmed. Four bodies were identified on the spot:

Six wounded persons, whose identity has not been established yet, have been admitted to the General Hospital in Djakovica and treated at the Surgical Ward. They sustained severe wounds which might be fatal.
In further bombardment, the family house of Vitor Gojani in the village of Meja was struck and damaged. There is a 2 x 2 m crater by the house, approximately 2 m deep, as well as fragments of a missile.
Planes of the criminal NATO alliance committed an air strike on a part of a refugee column of ethnic Albanians, which moved from Djakovica towards Prizren.
The attack took place on a stretch of the road between the village of Meja, Djakovica municipality, and the village of Bistražin, Djakovica Municipality.
A missile launched from a NATO plane struck this road, entirely demolishing a tractor with a trailer full of passengers - ethnic Albanians. The missile explosion killed 20 persons on the spot, including five children. The victims were from the villages of Racaj and Šišman, both in the Municipality of Djakovica. According to the testimony of Beće Bedri, M.D., from the village of Racaj, Djakovica Municipality, who witnessed the event, the following persons rode on the tractor trailer: eight members of Alji Ibraj’s family, four members of Špen Nuraj’s family, four members of Fatmir Nuraj’s family, three members of Sejdi Nuraj’s family and another tree persons from the village of Šišman whom the witness does not know.
On a stretch of the same road, near the Terzijski bridge in the area of the village of Bistražin, NATO warplanes fired another missile which struck the road, demolishing two tractors with trailers, also carrying the members of Albanian ethnic community. According to the testimony of Smajljo Pajaziti, from the village of Dobroš, Djakovica Municipality, on the first trailer, which is completely destroyed, there were some 20-30 men, women and children from the village of Nivokaz, Djakovica Municipality. All
these people were killed. On the second tractor, driven by Hadži Pajaziti, from the
village of Dobroš, Djakovica Municipality, the following persons were killed on the
spot: Razija Pajaziti, about 40 years old, wife of the witness, Vjolca Pajaziti (18),
witness’s daughter, Violeta Pajaziti (16), witness’s daughter, Nevrija Pajaziti, witness’s daughter-in-law, Hasan Pajaziti, about 50 years old, as well as Fljora Pajaziti, Hasan’s daughter.
On the same occasion the following policemen were wounded: Pavle Zuvić (light injuries), Milan Šćepanović (light injuries - concussion), Božidar Vukićević, whose tympanic membranes were injured by explosion and Božidar Dimić, who sustained severe wounds in the left lower leg and who will be taken to the Clinical and Hospital Center in Priština. The mentioned policemen were members of the Djakovica Police Station and happened to be on the site of incident while performing their regular duties.
Fifteen bodies, unidentified so far, have been found on this site.
On the stretch of the same road, at the place called Gradiš, some 200 meters from the Švanjski bridge, the criminal NATO alliance fired four missiles, which demolished two tractors: one on the road, and the other on the side of the road, one Mercedes passenger car, license plate DJ 329-12, and a TAM truck, license plate DJ 147-12.
Persons belonging to Albanian ethnic community rode in the mentioned tractors. A male body was found on the spot. It was identified by a medical insurance card as Adem Seljmani, born on 5 January (year illegible) from the village of Dobroš, Djakovica Municipality.
The mentioned vehicles - a Mercedes and a TAM truck - moved from the direction of Prizren towards Djakovica and they have been completely demolished.
By 6:00 p.m. six men, seventeen women and eight children sought first aid in the General Hospital in Djakovica. One child passed away while being given medical help.
The ethnic Albanian refugees were fleeing their homes in fear of NATO attacks, because on the night of 13/14 April 1999 NATO planes were repeatedly flying over the villages of Junik, Racaj, Madanaj, Meja and others.
On-site investigation was conducted by Milenko Momčilović, the investigative judge of the Municipal Court in Djakovica, who will make a report.
Forensic technicians have sketched the site, photographed it and videotaped
the scene.
Fragments of missiles found on the site will be sent for expert examination to determine the manufacturer and arsenal from which they originate.
Criminal charges will be filed against the criminal NATO alliance forces for the offense of violation of the territorial integrity, Article 116 of the Penal Code of the FR of Yugoslavia.

ZR/NR

SECRETARIAT SUPERINTENDENT
Colonel
(sgd) Milovan Kovačević

NOTE:
In this air strike 56 persons of both sexes and different ages were killed.
36 persons of both sexes and different ages were wounded. They are hospitalized in the General Hospital in Djakovica for medical treatment.

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Djakovica
Dispatch No. 2594
15 April 1999
Djakovica

Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia
- Criminal Police HQ
- Police HQ
- Operations Center
B e l g r a d e

Ministry of the Interior HQ
P r i š t i n a

Ref.: our dispatch No. 2583/99 dtd. 14 April 1999

In connection with our dispatch, we hereby report that during the ground search in the wider area of the village of Meja, Djakovica Municipality, we found another four unidentified bodies of persons who perished in the air strike by the NATO alliance aggressor.
There are visible wounds on the bodies inflicted by an explosive device and piercing wounds inflicted by shrapnel.
Upon the search of the victims’ clothes, we found personal documents on two bodies: one in the name of RAM MALJOKU, father’s name Seljmon, born in the village of Junik, Dečani Municipality, on 1 January 1913, the other in the name of ARTON MALJOKU, father’s name Ram, born on 29 May 1980 in the village of Junik, Dečani Municipality. There were no personal documents on the other two bodies that could be used for their identification.
The investigative judge of the Municipal Court in Djakovica was informed of the found bodies and he authorized the OSL of the Secretariat of the Interior in Djakovica to conduct an on-site investigation.
Forensic technicians have photographed the site and will accordingly compile the forensic technical documentation.
All four bodies were middle-aged males.
According to the order of the investigative judge, the bodies were turned over to the funeral company JP Čabrat and buried on 15 April 1999.

SECRETARIAT SUPERINTENDENT
Colonel
(sgd) Milovan Kovačević

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Djakovica
Criminal Police Department
16 April 1999
Djakovica

Criminal Police Department
Superintendent
(sgd) Lt. Col. Milan Stanojević

 

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Djakovica
Forensic Technical Department
F.T. Registration No. 781/160/99
Djakovica, 14 April 1999

 

 

REPORT
OF THE ON-SITE FORENSIC TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

 

1. Type of offense or event:
NATO BOMBING OF A COLUMN OF VEHICLES WITH MEMBERS OF ALBANIAN ETHNIC COMMUNITY

2. Place and date of occurrence:
Village of Madanaj, Djakovica Municipality, and on the Djakovica-Prizren road in the village of Bistražin and the village of Gradiš

3. Participants:
Victims: Members of Albanian ethnic community

4. Manner of commission:
Described in the report of on-site investigation.

5. Forensic technical procedures performed:
Inspected, photographed and videotaped.

6. Clues or objects found on the site: Yes.
a) traces of papillary lines (place found, developing and fixing method)
(blank)
b) Other clues and objects found on the site (type of clues, place found and fixing method) and note relevant for further processing of clues.
On the site in the village of Madanaj, Djakovica Municipality, 19 bodies have been found, as well as a damaged tractor, fragments of an explosive device and a crater by the side of a country road.
On the Djakovica-Prizren road, in the village of Bistražin, near the Terzijski bridge, 35 bodies, two damaged tractors, parts of an explosive device and two craters have been found.
On the Djakovica-Prizren road, in the village of Gradiš, Djakovica Municipality, one body, two damaged tractors, one passenger vehicle and one freight vehicle, three craters and parts of an explosive device have been found.

 

 

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Prizren - Criminal Police Dpt.
PU No. _____/99
17 April 1999
Prizren

Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia
- Criminal Police HQ
- Criminal-Technical Center
Belgrade

Please find enclosed the report on the NATO air strike on a refugee column on the Prizren-Djakovica road, near the village of Landovica, on 14 April 1999, including forensic technical documentation.

Enclosures:

· Minutes of on-site inspection
· Excerpt from a topographical map
· Photographic and technical documentation of the site
· Forensic technical report
· Parts of a plane bomb with letters and numerical marks
· A film negative and a videotape recorded on the site

 

CPD Superintendent
(sgd) Lt. Col. Milan Petrović

 

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Prizren
Criminal Police Department
PU No. ___/99
15 April 1999
Prizren

To the District Attorney

Pursuant to Art. 151, paragraph 6 of the Criminal Procedure Law, we hereby enclose:
1. (blank)
2. (blank)
3. (blank)
4. Report on the air strike of NATO forces near the village of Pirane, Prizren Municipality

Enclosure: Report with enclosures

Cc.
Registrar

Authorized person
CPD Superintendent
(sgd) Lt. Col. Milan Petrović

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Prizren
Criminal Police Department
PU No. ___/99
15 April 1999
Prizren

District Attorney
Prizren

Pursuant to Art. 151, paragraph 6 of the Criminal Procedure Law, we hereby submit a

REPORT

On 14 April 1999 about 2:30 p.m. on the regional road Prizren-Djakovica, near the crossing leading towards the village of Donja Srbica, Prizren Municipality, near the village of Pirane, Prizren Municipality, an air strike by NATO forces was committed on a column of persons which moved on tractors from Djakovica towards Prizren.

The air strike was committed by one bomb dropped from an airplane which fell near the asphalt road on the right side looking towards Djakovica, making a crater 5.00 x 3.50 x 0.70 meters, killing the following persons:

· Fikrije Sulja, father’s name Muhamet, born on 11 January 1975 in the village of Molić, Djakovica Municipality,
· Imer Ćelja, father’s name Šaban, born on 7 September 1945 in the village of Batuša, Djakovica Municipality,
· Ferat Bajrami, father’s name Seit, born in 1962 in the village of Košare, Djakovica Municipality
· Nerdjivane Zećiri, mother’s name Zoja, born in 1982 in the village of Dobruš, Djakovica Municipality,
· Bersade Smajlji, father’s name Gani, born in 1992 in the village of Nivokaze, Djakovica Municipality and
· one unidentified female, app. 20 years old.

All the bodies were taken to the mortuary of the Medical Center in Prizren and at the order of Jugoslav Skenderi, the investigative judge of the District Court in Prizren, the bodies were examined externally by Hidajet Lutviju, M.D., who found out that all the victims sustained fatal wounds visible as explosive wounds with damage of vital organs inflicted by shrapnel. The bodies have been subsequently buried on the Muslim cemetery in Prizren.
A forensic technician photographed the procedure of external examination and the burial ground.
In this air attack the following persons sustained severe life-threatening wounds:

In this air attack, the following persons sustained minor injuries:

All deceased and wounded persons are members of the Albanian ethnic minority.
On-site investigation was conducted by OSL, Secretariat of the Interior, Prizren, upon authorization of Jugoslav Skenderi. Dobrivoje Perić, district attorney in Prizren, has been informed of the incident.
During on-site investigation, a crater of the dimensions mentioned earlier has been found, as well as many fragments of an airplane bomb. The following has been found on the asphalt road: fragments of glass, oil, victims’ clothing and two tractors - one with the license plate DJ-SAP 2239, while the other without license plate has been found on the right side of the road in the field, looking towards Djakovica, with visible damage. The asphalt was speckled with numerous red spots, possibly blood.
The forensic technician photographed and videotaped the site.
The bodies have been subjected to forensic technical procedure and identification of an unidentified body is under way.
Enclosed to the report is the photographic documentation of the site.
This report and enclosures are submitted for your further consideration.

Authorized persons
Cpt. Elez Mustafi
Cpt. Ljubiša Gogić
2nd Lt. Srboljub Marković
2nd Lt. Zoran Marković

 

MINUTES OF ON-SITE INVESTIGATION

compiled on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia, Secretariat of the Interior in Prizren, pursuant to Art. 154, paragraph 2 in connection with Art. 238 of the Law on Criminal Procedure.
Location of the site where the investigation takes place: Regional Road Prizren-Djakovica near the turn for the village of Donja Srbica.
The on-site investigation is conducted by the authorized person: Zoran Marković, second lieutenant.
Minutes taken by Čedomir Nekić, forensic technician.
Before the investigation began, the following has been established:
The on-site investigation has been undertaken following the information that an air strike had been committed by the NATO on 14 April 1999 at 2:30 p.m.

The investigation began at 3:30 p.m.
It has been established by the investigation that the site is located on the regional road Prizren-Djakovica, near the village of Pirane, by the turning for the village of Donja Srbica, Prizren Municipality.
The investigation has been conducted at good visibility.
During the on-site investigation, on the right side of the road looking towards Djakovica, before the turning for the village of Donja Srbica, next to the asphalt, a 4 ´ 4 m crater, 0.70 m deep was found, as well as scattered clods of earth, fragments of plane bombs, shrapnel, all in the diameter of approximately 20 meters. On the right side of the crater, next to the railway tracks, we found a tractor with some personal belongings on it. There were two bodies on the tractor: a female approximately 20 years old and a male, approximately 40 years old. There are visible marks from the bomb detonation next to the tractor: scattered things and damage of the tractor.
Next to the crater, on the asphalt road, there is visible damage of asphalt occurred through the effect of fragments of airplane bombs. On the asphalt surface we found a tractor with license plate DJ-SAP 2239 with personal belongings and a female body, approximately 17 years old. Next to the tractor, on the right side of the road, there was a female body, approximately 40 years old, while on the left side of the road, in the grass bordering the asphalt and next to the tractor there was a body of a female child, approximately 7 years old. Also, there were many red stains, possibly blood, pieces of clothing, bomb fragments, shrapnel, etc. On the left side of the asphalt road, in the field, at a distance of app. 30 meters from the tractor, a decapitated male body was found, red-colored stains resembling blood, as well as several clods of earth, bomb fragments and shrapnel.
The refugee column moved from Djakovica towards Prizren.
A forensic technician photographed and videotaped the site and photo and video evidence shall be an integral part of this report.
The on-site investigation was conducted by the authorization of Jugoslav Skenderi, the investigative judge of the District Court in Prizren.
The on-site investigation was concluded at 5:30 p.m.

Second Lieutenant
(sgd) Zoran Marković

 

Republic of Serbia
Ministry of the Interior
Secretariat in Prizren
Forensic Technical Department
F.T. Reg. No. 750/250/99
Prizren, 14 April 1999

REPORT
ON THE ON-SITE FORENSIC TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

1. Type of offense or event:
NATO air strike on a refugee column
2. Place and date of occurence:
On the Prizren-Djakovica road near the village of Donja Srbica, 14 April 1999
3. Participants:
(6 killed persons and dozens of wounded)
4. Manner of commission:
Air strike by bombs dropped from a plane on a column of tractors full of passengers.
5. Forensic technical procedures performed:
Detailed forensic technical inspection of the site, fixing and photographing.
6. Clues or objects found on site: Yes.
a) clues (place found, developing and fixing method)
Clue 1: Crater of an airplane bomb next to the asphalt 4 meters in diameter and 80 cm deep, fragments of a plane-dropped bomb which killed 6 persons and wounded several dozens.
Clue 2:Crater of an airplane bomb found in the field on the right side of asphalt looking towards the village of Krajk, approximately 5 m in diameter and 70 cm deep. Around the crater - fragments of a plane-dropped bomb which killed 6 persons and wounded several dozens.
All the mentioned clues and bomb fragments have been fixed and photographed. Fragments of plane-dropped bomb have been removed from the site for further investigation.
b) Other clues and objects found on the site (type of clues, place found and fixing method) and note relevant for further processing of clues.
(blank)

Forensic technician
Sergeant 1st class
(sgd) Ćerim Bužalja