Summary

RAKOVINA MASSACRE, GJAKOVA

Shaban Tafe Kelmendi (1953), from Rakovina, near Gjakova, with children Besim (12 years) and Haxhi (11years) and Hysen Kurti (1959), from Cermjan with his wife, Sanije Kurti (1964), were executed by the Serbian police at the police checkpoint in Kramovik on 24 January 1999, around 19,00 hrs, near Rakovina Bridge, while they were travelling by tractor (with trailer filled with animal food) from Kramovik to Cermjan at Hysen’s family, trying to survive the war. OSCE observers appeared in the crime scene and found that more than 200 bullets of heavy calibre 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm were shot onto their bodies, but Serbian executioners were not happy with this. In addition, bodies were also hit by sharp object from short distance.

This article, dedicated to the victims of the Serbian massacre at Rakovina, discusses Serbian war crimes and atrocities carried out against the Kelmendi family and locals of the Rakovina village. Many houses were burned by the Serbs. Cited from Izet Kelmendi:

“Brother and sister, this case is the massacre of the Rakovina, here they are mocking me, my father and my two brothers, 10 and 12 years old, are killed, and on the tractor there is a man and a woman who left 6 years without a father and mother, this is a reason for me to boycott Serbian products.”

The photo shows Serbian armed military police after having murdered several Albanian civilians in the region of Rakovina.

Massacre of the Kelmendi family

Shaban Kelmendi, and his two sons Besim and Haxhiu, were killed by Serb soldiers.

The Serb soldiers who murdered them check their bodies for loot.

The bridge of Rakovina

Albanian villages burned by Serbs.

Many Albanians were beaten, tortured or killed by the Serbs in the region of Rakovina in 1998-1999.

Mejreme Krasniqi that as her family fled, the Serbs fired at them.

Sadri Hasanaj says that Shaban Kelmendi was tortured by the Serbs, and was released to return home, in the burned house. Sadri Hasanaj allowed him to stay in his small house which the Serbs had not managed to burn down. Then a neighbor of Sadri Hasanaj was murdered by the Serbs.

The Serbs killed the Albanian civilians Shaban, Besim and Hagji Kelmendi who were shot in the tractor as they were on their way to visit relatives.

There is a documentary about the Rakovina massacre which can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Gb8ZKzitM