Information Service of SITUATION IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA LARGELY CALM EXCEPT FOR ALARMING SITUATION IN OBILIC Latest information: March 18 at 10:50 Disturbing news is coming from Obilic in the form of reports that Albanians have attacked the remaining Serbs in Obilic and that there are casualties and wounded. According to sources in Obilic reporting by phone, Albanian extremists are taking Serbs out of their houses and summarily executing them in front of their homes. The church, at least 15 Serb houses and two Serb apartment buildings are in flames. The Serbs in Obilic are without the protection of either UNMIK or KFOR and with them are only a few Serb members of the Kosovo Police Service. The ERP KIM Info Service has just informed UNMIK headquarters of the alarming situation in Obilic. ERP KIM Info Service According to the most recent information received by the Diocese of Raska and Prizren in the morning hours, the situation in Kosovo and Metohija is calm but still very tense. There is great uncertainty and concern among the population. The exact number of casualties and wounded is unknown. Albanian media report 16 dead and over 500 wounded but it is assumed that these numbers relate only to loses on the Albanian side. The exact number of casualties and wounded among the Serbs is not known. The Diocese is attempting to collect reliable information regarding destroyed churches and monasteries: 1. Pec: Church of St. John the Fore-runner, "the old Metropolitanate", 1982, burned along with the parish home 2. Djakovica: Church of the Holy Ascension of Our Lord, 19th century, burned along with the parish home (four Serb old ladies living there evacuated to Decani Monastery) 3. Prizren: Orthodox Cathedral of the Mother of God of Ljevis (established in the 12th century, restored by King Milutin in 1306-7 during the reign of Prizren bishops Damjan and Sava, whose names are engraved on the church facade), burned 4. Prizren: Church of Christ the Savior built and decorated with frescoes in the 1320's and 1330's burned 5. Prizren: Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Great Martyr George, built in 1997, with a 14th century icon of the Mother of God and an 18th century iconostasis, burned 6. Prizren: Monastery of Holy Archangels near Prizren, built by Serbian Emperor Dusan 1343-1352 (brotherhood of 7 monks evacuated), burned 7. Prizren: Church of St. George Runovic, built in the 15th century, with 16th century portals, located in the courtyard of the Church of St. George in front of the Diocese seat, burned 8. Prizren: Episcopate of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren (seat of the Diocese), built in the 1960's, burned 9. Urosevac: Church of the Holy Emperor Uros, built in 1933, burned 10. Kosovo Polje: Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 19th century, burned 11. Bresje: Church of St. Catherine, built in the 19th century, burned 12. Pristina: Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 19th century, interior destroyed and desecrated, possibly burned 13. Gnjilane: Church of St. Nicholas, built in 1861, burned with all remaining Serb houses in Gnjilane 14. Belo Polje: Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 19th century, damaged in 1999, partially restored, now burned The greatest loss for the Orthodox cultural legacy was done in Prizren with the destruction of Mother of God of Ljevis, Christ the Savior and Holy Archangels. We fear that the other remaining churches in Prizren may also have been destroyed but it is impossible to determine at this time. Also unknown is the fate of two churches in Lipljan and the church in Stimlje which was further damaged in January 2004. Priest-monk Benedikt Preradovic of Holy Archangels Monastery called the Diocese from Sredska Zupa and said all the monks are well and safe, including Fr. Miron Kosac who was evacuated from the burning building of the Bishop's residence in Prizren. For now the remaining Serbs in Sredska Zupa are safe and strong KFOR forces are present there. Fr. Benedict says that last night at about 19,00 hours an enormous group of Albanians attacked the monastery and that the monks were evacuated at the last moment as the throng began to destroy the embankments on the road and chant "UCK, UCK" ("KLA, KLA"). The monastery was set on fire immediately after the Albanians broke into the interior. According to Fr. Benedikt the damage in Prizren is unfathomable. There is still no information regarding the fate of the remaining Serbs in Prizren, especially eight Serb refugees who were living in the now torched Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. According to our information Serb returnees to the villages of Bicha, Grabac and Belo Polje were evacuated by Italian KFOR soldiers. Several Serbs from Belo Polje were wounded but not seriously and they received medical treatment in the Italian military base. The situation in presently stable in Gracanica and Brezovica. Serbs from Lipljan have been evacuated to nearby Serb villages and their homes have been torched. Last night at least four Serbs were murdered during the pogrom and revelry of Albanians in Lipljan. Serbs from the YU program building in Pristina have all been evacuated to Gracanica. According to yesterday's statement by UNMIK police spokesman Derek Chappell, there are no indications that the Serbs were in any way involved in the drowning of Albanian children in the Ibar. According to the statements of a surviving child, the children fell into the water and were pulled by the strong current. The story unanimously broadcast by the Albanian media that the Serbs allegedly set dogs on the children and forced them into the water represents a crude manipulation whose purpose was to spark the already prepared strategy of a general pogrom against the Serbs. The Diocese expresses its regret upon the loss of life of the Albanian children but emphasizes that the manipulation of this tragedy by Albanian media is a pre-planned and staged incitement to begin a pogrom that has been planned months ahead. The Diocese also expresses its regret following the torching of two mosques in Belgrade and Nis and appeals to Serbs that they cannot help Kosovo and Metohija by irrational attacks on innocent people and their religious shrines but are only making the situation of the Serbs and the Church in Kosovo and Metohija more difficult. We call on Serbs to act soberly, consciously and with dignity, and to express their protest in a civilized fashion by gathering in their churches, lighting candles and engaging in peaceful protests. The Diocese also appeals for the urgent collection of humanitarian aid for endangered Serbs forced to leave their homes. Clothing, footwear, food and other basics are all necessary. As soon as channels for the delivery of humanitarian aid are opened, it will be critical to send assistance as quickly as possible. ~~~ NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN We have received confirmation from Pristina that the old Pristina church of St. Nicholas from the beginning of the 19th century has been set on fire together with the parish home. All Serbs from Pristina have been evacuated to Gracanica. An ERP KIM Info Service source in the village of Ugljare near Kosovo Polje informed the Diocese that all Serb houses in Kosovo Polje are being systematically torched. No one is putting out the fires as if the whole thing had been planned in advance, say local Serb sources. For now the Serbs in Ugljare are safe. ~~~ DEVIC MONASTERY IN FLAMES, NUNS EVACUATED ERP KIM Info Service The Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija received word today that the sisterhood of Devic Monastery near Srbica, south of Mitrovica, has been evacuated by KFOR. At least 1,000 armed Albanians circled the monastery which was looted and set on fire immediately after the evacuation. The relics of St. Joanikije of Devic the Miracle-worker - among the most precious sacred objects of Orthodoxy - remain in the monastery. The sisters are currently safe. Alarming news has come from Novo Brdo where attacks on the remaining Serbs are in progress. A hand grenade has been lobbed at one Serb house and two other houses are already in flames. Reports have also been received from Vucitrn that Albanians are systematically torching the houses in the village of Svinjare. The fate of the remaining Serbs in Gojbulja and vicinity remains unknown. On the basis of today's reports from Obilic and other parts of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as tragic events of yesterday in Kosovo and Metohija, the Diocese presumes that at least several dozen, possibly more than one hundred Serbs have been murdered by the Kosovo Albanians. Many have been wounded. The material damage is immense, especially for the Serbian Orthodox Church. Practically the entire centuries-old history of the Serbian people has disappeared in the flames of violence and crime. Remaining Serbs are being evacuated in every direction and there is a justified fear that this is an intentional and pre-planned strategy to divide Kosovo and Metohija which is probably being carried out with the silent acquiescence of certain international circles. It is incomprehensible that this pogrom against the Serbs is taking place in the presence of 18,000 members of KFOR equipped with the most modern equipment in the world, and several thousand members of the UNMIK police. The Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija appeals to international circles to remain true to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the idea of a multiethnic Kosovo, and to undertake all necessary measures in order to stop this uncontrolled violence and protect the remaining Serb population and its holy shrines. According to information received this morning, the following newly destroyed churches have been added to the list of destroyed churches and monasteries: 1. Devic Monastery, built
in the 14th century |
