More rebels surrender as peacekeepers prepare for turnover of buffer zone
By Scott Schonauer,
Kosovo bureau
A buildup of U.S. and international peacekeepers are prepared for the
worst Thursday when Yugoslav security forces enter the last section of a buffer zone
around Kosovo.
But there are signs that ethnic Albanian armed groups could let
troops in without the bloodshed they once vowed.
Rather than confront a powerful army, more guerrilla fighters from
southern Serbia’s Presevo Valley crossed the border into Kosovo on Wednesday and
turned themselves in to U.S. soldiers. It added to the more than 350 militants who have
surrendered in the past week.
On Tuesday, 43 members of the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedje
and Bujanovac, or UCPMB, turned themselves in along with more than three truckloads of
weapons, ammunition and explosives to Russian and U.S. soldiers.
Peacekeepers expected more guerrilla fighters to take advantage of
NATO’s offer of amnesty leading up to Thursday’s buffer zone turnover, but Army
spokesman Maj. Randy Martin said it is too early to assume that all of the militants will
go quietly.
“We still have a long way to go,” Martin said on the eve of
the reduction. “You count success on a daily basis, sometimes an hourly basis.”
One key ethnic Albanian rebel leader agreed Monday to disarm and
disband by the end of the month. Other commanders agreed with demilitarization, but there
is believed to be one rebel leader who has refused to give up and let Yugoslav troops into
the buffer. Muhamet Xhemajli, known as Commander Rebel, strongly opposed negotiations with
NATO or the Yugslav army.
The Associated Press and Reuters reported that U.S. forces had
arrested the renegade leader in Kosovo and took him to Camp Bondsteel, but U.S. Army
officials said Wednesday that wasn’t true.
Rebels freed by Army soldiers earlier this week told Stars and
Stripes that their comrades would not have a chance against Yugoslavia’s powerful,
professional army. The number of rebels in the valley varies, but the latest account puts
them at just over 1,000 men and dwindling quickly. Yugoslav’s army in the valley is
well over 3,000 troops.
NATO troops prepared last Thursday for possible refugees and rebels
who would be wounded in any fighting. Peacekeepers beefed up its forces along the boundary
this week, supplementing U.S. and Russian soldiers with additional troops from other
countries such as Britain.
Some U.S. army units had their tour of duty extended. The units
included: the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment; the 47th Forward Support Battalion;
and the 2nd Brigade Reconnaissance Troop based in Baumholder, Germany. An attack aviation
helicopter company based in Hanau, Germany; and V Corps’ 615th Military Police
Company, based in Grafenwöhr, Germany, also will have to stay longer.
The units have been deployed to Kosovo since December. Maj. Jim
Marshall, an Army public affairs officer, said earlier in the week that the troops would
remain indefinitely. About 650 soldiers are affected by the extension.
“This is a critical event for Kosovo and the Balkans,” said
Col. Gene Kamena, 2nd Brigade commander. He said the reduction of the buffer zone is a
“critical event for Kosovo and the Balkans” and keeping experienced units will
help accomplish the mission.
“These soldiers know the importance of this mission, and by
remaining here, they will make a critical difference,” he said.
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