Prewar period (Kosovo)

Prewar period
Part of the breakup of Yugoslavia
Location of the Republic of Kosova in relation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Date	22 September 1991 – 27 May 1995
Location	AP Kosovo and Metohija, FR Yugoslavia
Caused by	Persecution of Albanians by Yugoslav authorities and Kosovan independence referendum
Goals	KLA: Unification of Albania and Kosovo Kosova: Kosovo self-determination Yugoslavia: Pacify the province
Resulted in	Tensions escalate dramatically KLA begins the Insurgency in Kosovo 340,700 Albanians seek political asylum outside of Yugoslavia [1] Many guerrilla attacks, leading to dozens of Yugoslav casualties.
Parties
Kosovo Liberation Army Republic of Kosova  • FARK Support: Albania FR Yugoslavia  • Police of Serbia
Lead figures
Adem Jashari Hamëz Jashari Ilaz Kodra Hashim Thaçi Ibrahim Rugova Jusuf Zejnullahu Bujar Bukoshi Slobodan Milošević
Number
c. 150 active members [2] 913,705 Kosovan citizens voted for their independence [3] 40,000 soldiers 35,000 policemen 1,000–1,200 volunteers [4]
Casualties and losses
at least 1 killed Several arrested Dozens killed Several injured

The Prewar period of Kosovo refers to a period in the history of Kosovo which happened during the early to mid-1990s.

It is generally believed to have started on 22 September 1991, with the declaration of the Republic of Kosova and later ended with the start of an insurgency in the territory. ^[5]

Events

Declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosova

Main article: Republic of Kosova

In late June 1990, Ethnic Albanian members of the provincial assembly proposed a vote on whether to form an independent republic. The ethnic Serbian president of the assembly would shut it down, however he would promise to reopen the assembly on 2, but this was later postponed.

On 2 July, the vast majority of Ethnic Albanian members of the Provincial Assembly returned to the Assembly which had been locked; so in the street outside they voted to make Kosovo a republic within the Yugoslav federation. ^[6] In response, the Serbian government dissolved the Assembly and government of Kosovo, removing all of its remaining autonomy, before passing a law on labour relations which dismissed 80,000 Albanians. ^[7]

The ethnic Albanian members of the dissolved Kosovo Assembly met in secret in Kaçanik on 7 September and formed the "Republic of Kosova" in which laws from Yugoslavia would only be accepted if they were compatible with the Republic's constitution. The "Republic of Kosova" was then declared an independent state on 22 September 1991. ^[8] This declaration was endorsed by 99% of the voters in an unofficial referendum held several days later. ^[9] The first country that recognized the Republic of Kosova was Albania ^[5] Serbian authorities rejected the election results, and attempted to capture and prosecute the voters. ^[10]

Training of Kosovars in Albania

During the year of 1991, a group of ethnic Kosovars would flee to Albania where they would complete a secret military training course with help from the Albanian army and government. The training was also supported by then Albanian president Ramiz Alia. Among these fighters, 50 would illegally cross the border into Yugoslavia. This group, led by Adem Jashari, Hamëz Jashari and Ilaz Kodra would later become the founding members of the KLA. ^[11]

Siege of Prekaz

Main article: Siege of Prekaz (1991)

On 29 December, Adem Jashari received a call that warned him about an approaching MUP convoy with armored vehicle's and helicopters. In response, Adem and his brother Hamëz gathered four of their friends and relatives and sought refuge in the neighboring street of Kodra. ^{[12] [13]} Believing it was safe, they returned home in the early hours of December 30, however they were met with gunfire from Serbian police officers. During the ensuing shootout, a crowd of both armed and unarmed Kosovo Albanians converged on the Jashari home, breaking the siege and forcing the MUP unit to retreat and declare Prekaz a "no-go area". ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Skenderaj–Drenas attacks

Between the years of 1991–1994, Adem Jashari led multiple attacks on Yugoslav police stations and patrols in the towns of Skenderaj and Drenas. During these attacks his forces would be able to kill dozens of officers. ^[11]

Glogovac attack

Main article: Glogovac attack

In 22, 23 or 25 May 1993, the KLA carried out an attack under the leadership of Hashim Thaçi and Adem Jashari. Concealed gunmen ambushed a police vehicle, resulting in the deaths of 5 officers and the wounding of 2. ^{[17] [18] [19]}

Lješane incident

On 26 May 1992, Serbian Police were planning to arrest Tahir Berisha, an art teacher from the village of Lješane, Peć. When they confronted him, Tahir shot at the officers and killed one of them while injuring the other, however he was shot and killed. ^[20]

Arrest in Autumn 1994

During Autumn 1994, the Serbian Secret Service arrested Besim Rama, an Albanian from Prekaz i Epërm who was very close to Adem Jashari. During Rama's court trial, the Court of Pristina charged Albanian fighters Adem Jashari, Ilaz Kodra, Hashim Thaçi, Rexhep Selimi, Fadil Kodra, Zenun Kodra, Nuredin Lushtaku, Sami Lushtaku, Sahit Jashari, ldriz AsIlani, Ali Jonuzi and Jakup Nura in absentia. ^[11]

Attacks in 1995

In 1995, KLA attacks intensified. A Serbian policeman was allegedly murdered in 1995 by the KLA. ^[21] In 1995 the KLA began to ambush and murder Serbian policemen and soldiers hoping to destabilize the region so that NATO and the United States would intervene. ^[22] The KLA would only take responsibility for these attacks the following year. ^[21]

Aftermath

Main article: Insurgency in Kosovo (1995–1998)

The Insurgency in Kosovo started in 1995, after the Dayton Agreement that ended the Bosnian War. In 1996, the KLA began attacking Serbian governmental buildings and police stations. After the further escalation of tensions, this insurgency would lead to the more intense Kosovo War in February 1998. ^{[23] [24] [25]}

References

1. Troebst, Stefan. "THE KOSOVO CONFLICT, 1998" (PDF). Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung.
2. Cabestan, Jean-Pierre; Pavkovic, A., eds. (2013). Secessionism and Separatism in Europe and Asia: To Have a State of One’s Own. Taylor & Francis. p. 85. ISBN   9781136205866.
3. 1991 Referendum - Report. albanian.com (Report). Archived from the original on 2012-03-06.
4. Troebst, Stefan. "THE KOSOVO CONFLICT, 1998" (PDF). Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung.
5. "Statement of Prime Minister of Albania Mr. Sali Berisha on Recognition of Independence of Kosova". Republic of Albania Council of Ministers. 2008-02-18. Archived from the original on 2012-04-20.
6. Malcolm, Noel (1999). Kosovo: a short history. New York: HarperPerennial. p. 346. ISBN   9780060977757.
7. "ON THE RECORD: Civil Society in Kosovo - Volume 9, Issue 1 - August 30, 1999 - THE BIRTH AND REBIRTH OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN KOSOVO - PART ONE: REPRESSION AND RESISTANCE". Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
8. Vidmar, Jure (2021). "International Legal Responses to Kosovo's Declaration of Independence". Vanderbilt Law Review. 42 (3): 779. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
9. Müller, Beat (30 September 1991). "Kosovo (Jugoslawien), 30 September 1991: Unabhängigkeit". sudd.ch (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2023.
10. Malcolm, Noel (1998). Kosovo: A Short History. Macmillan. p. 347. ISBN   978-0-333-66612-8.
11. Ahmet, Qeriqi (6 March 2024). "Adem Shaban Jashari (28.11.1955 – 7.3.1998)". radiokosovaelire.com.
12. Children of the Eagle (2024-06-26). The Immortal Saga of Adem Jashari - Part 1 . Retrieved 2024-08-03– via YouTube.
13. "Biografia e heroit dhe komandantit legjendar Adem Jashari!". Prizren Post (in Albanian). 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
14. Bartrop, Paul R. (2016-01-18). Bosnian Genocide: The Essential Reference Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN   978-1-4408-3869-9.
15. Bartrop, Paul R.; Jacobs, Steven Leonard (2014-12-17). Modern Genocide: The Definitive Resource and Document Collection [4 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN   979-8-216-11854-1.
16. Mijajlovic, Mihajlo S.; Anicic, Djordje S. (2022-01-28). Shooting Down the Stealth Fighter: Eyewitness Accounts from Those Who Were There. Air World. ISBN   978-1-5267-8043-0.
17. Union, Western European (1999). Proceedings - Assembly of Western European Union: Actes Officiels - Assemblée de L'Union de L'europe Occidentale. W.E.U. attack of a political nature was recorded at Glogovac in May 1993 , when a police car was fired on by concealed marksmen lying in ambush . Two policemen died and five others were wounded
18. Vaknin, Sam (2004-04-08). Terrorists and Freedom Fighters. Narcissus Publications. Contrary to typically shallow information in the media, the KLA has been known to have operated in Kosovo as early as the attack on policemen in Glogovac in May 1993.
19. Mijajlovic, Mihajlo S.; Anicic, Djordje S. (2022-01-28). Shooting Down the Stealth Fighter: Eyewitness Accounts from Those Who Were There. Air World. ISBN   978-1-5267-8043-0. Some journalists claim that a May 1993 attack in Glogovac that left five Serbian policemen dead and two wounded was the first attack carried out by the KLA.
20. Lulëzim, Etemaj (26 May 1992). "Tahir Lush Berisha, njëri nga pararendësit tipik të UÇK-së". epokaere.com.
21. Professor Peter Radan; Dr Aleksandar Pavkovic (28 April 2013). The Ashgate Research Companion to Secession. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 178–. ISBN   978-1-4094-7652-8.
22. Marsden 2000.
23. Independent International Commission on Kosovo (2000). The Kosovo Report (PDF). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 2. ISBN   978-0199243099. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
24. Quackenbush, Stephen L. (2015). International Conflict: Logic and Evidence. Los Angeles: Sage. p. 202. ISBN   9781452240985. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
25. "Roots of the Insurgency in Kosovo" (PDF). June 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2020-08-08.

• Bulatović, Predrag, ed. (May 1981). Шта се догађало на Косову[What was happening in Kosovo]. Politika's Little Library (in Serbian). Belgrade: Politika.
• Jović, Dejan (2009). Yugoslavia: A State That Withered Away. Purdue University Press. p. 184. ISBN   9781557534958.
• Human Rights Watch (1998). Humanitarian Law Violations in Kosovo. New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN   978-1-56432-194-7. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
• Judah, Tim (2002). Kosovo: War and Revenge. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. ISBN   978-0-300-09725-2. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
• Kushner, Harvey W. (4 December 2002). Encyclopedia of Terrorism. SAGE Publications. pp. 206–. ISBN   978-1-4522-6550-6.
• Marsden, Chris (16 March 2000). "British documentary substantiates US-KLA collusion in provoking war with Serbia". WSWS. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
• Mertus, Julie A. (1999). "The 1981 Student Demonstrations". Kosovo: How Myths and Truths Started a War. University of California Press. ISBN   0-253-20703-7. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
• Perritt, Henry H. (2008). Kosovo Liberation Army: The Inside Story of an Insurgency. University of Illinois Press. ISBN   978-0-252-09213-8.