The Beleg Masacre (1989)

 Beleg, March 29 & 30, 1999

Written by: Mr.sci.Adem Lushaj, Decan

A night filled with horror. The explosions shook the village, the screams of women filled the air and the men were forcibly separated from their families. It was March 29 and 30, 1999, when Serbian police, military and paramilitary forces landed in the villages of Irznic and Beleg, committing the most inhumane crimes. The crime had spared neither children, nor the elderly, nor the female gender. The night of March 29 and 30 was a night of horror for the citizens who were in the village of Beleg.

In retaliation for the defeats suffered by the Kosovo Liberation Army at Pozhar, Serbian forces carried out a brutal attack on the Albanian population. Women and children were forcibly deported to Albania, while men over the age of 17 were separated and disappeared without a trace. Evidence collected over the years points to torture, rape and mass executions, but the crime remains unpunished.

The testimonies of the survivors have provided clear information about some of the main perpetrators of the crime. Among them, the most mentioned are: Vula Mirčič, Zoran Đurišić

Professor Mehmet Mazrekaj, a key witness to this massacre, has also testified at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, providing incontrovertible evidence of the disappearances and executions of Albanian civilians. However, even after more than two decades, none of the criminals have been prosecuted, neither in Kosovo, nor in Serbia, nor by international justice. "I have testified three times before the International Tribunal in The Hague about the Serbian crimes committed in Beleg. We were gathered in the village of Beleg together with fellow citizens from the village of Drenoc and other villages of Deçan, Peja and Gjakova. Meanwhile, numerous Serbian-Slavic military, paramilitary and police forces, disguised in various forms, have come to the village. All the time they have been mistreating, robbing and killing us. This is proven by the fact that we still have dozens of missing citizens. They separated the men from the women. They locked the women in cowsheds. Yes, yes... the perpetrators of the crime are known, they were Zoran and Vula," Mazrekaj said in his testimony. Similar testimonies have also been given by others who were victims or witnesses of the unprecedented crime against humanity.

Neither the Hague Tribunal, nor the Special Court for Kosovo, nor the institutions of Kosovo have taken measures to shed light on this massacre. Where are the bodies of the missing? Who will be held responsible for the rapes and executions?

The families of the victims live with the double pain: the loss of their loved ones and the indifference of the institutions. War crimes do not have statutes of limitations, and silence cannot be the answer in the face of this tragedy.

Will those responsible for the Beleg massacre ever be punished? Or will this remain another crime hidden in the archives of oblivion?

1. S.

In the village of Irznic on March 29, 1999, the following were executed: Zeqë, Tahir, Himë, Hajdin and Shkurte Dervishaj, as well as Tahir and Hajdar Dacaj. Meanwhile, in Beleg on March 29 and 30, 1999, the following were killed and disappeared: Daut Aliçkaj, Naim Vishaj, Nezir Vishaj, Hysni Binakaj, Gëzim Vishaj, Qazim Hulaj, Ali Kadrijaj, Shaban Kadrijaj, Jetmir Mazrekaj, Shaqë Binakaj, Malë Vishaj, Mujë Vishaj, Zymer Binakaj, Fatmir Vishaj, Faton Vishaj, Zenel Vishaj, Hamit Zukaj, Rexhep Neziraj, Brahim Zukaj, Hazir Zukaj, Ramë Kilaj, Smajl Ukëhaxhaj, Hajdar Mazrekaj, Nekë Binakaj, Sahit Mazrekaj, Sundim Mazrekaj, Hasan Mazrekaj, Misin Tolaj, Xhevat Tolaj, Isa Tolaj, Shaban Nitaj, Mehmet Tolaj, Haxhi Kadriaj, Arif Mazrekaj, Afrim Haderxhonaj, Bashkim Haderxhonaj, Muhamet Haderxhonaj, Xhevdet Haderxhonaj, Ali Mazreaj, Beqir Dervishaj, Tafe Dinaj and Ragip Morina.