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The '''Battle of Belaćevac Mine''' ({{lang-sr|Сукоб код рудника Белаћевац}}; {{lang-al|Beteja e Bardhit të Madh}}) was a 1998 battle that was fought during the [[Kosovo War]] between the [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA) and the [[Army of Serbia and Montenegro|Yugoslav Army]] (VJ) over the control of a [[coal mine]] which powered the nearby [[generating station]] which supplied electricity to most of the province of Kosovo.<ref name="indy"/>
The '''Battle of Belaćevac Mine''' ({{lang-sr|Сукоб код рудника Белаћевац}}; {{lang-al|Beteja e Bardhit të Madh}}) was a 1998 battle that was fought during the [[Kosovo War]] between the [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA) and the [[Army of Serbia and Montenegro]] over the control of a [[coal mine]] which powered the nearby [[generating station]] which supplied electricity to most of the province of Kosovo.<ref name="indy"/>


==KLA capture==
==KLA capture==
Line 23: Line 23:


==Yugoslav re-capture==
==Yugoslav re-capture==
On the morning of 30 June, the Yugoslav Army (VJ) launched an offensive into the area of Kosovo where the mines were located, and while some militants withdrew, those remaining in the mining buildings opened fire on the local police at around 14:00 in the afternoon.<ref>Hellenic Resources Network, [http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/yds/1998/98-06-30.yds.html Yugoslav Daily Survey], June 30, 1998</ref> Yugoslav police forces, with the help of more than 150 military vehicles including helicopters, tanks and artillery,<ref name="indy">[[The Independent]] [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/new-offensive-dashes-ceasefire-hope-1168593.html New offensive dashes ceasefire hope], June 30, 1998</ref> regained control of the Belaćevac Mine, as most of the Albanian militants had fled after encountering heavy tank-fire.<ref>[[Radio Free Europe]], [http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/news/omri/1998/07/980701II.html(opt,mozilla,unix,english,,new) Serbia claims success in Belacevac offensive], June 30, 1998</ref> The region was largely abandoned by both Albanian and Serbian civilians following the re-capture of the mines.<ref>[[National Public Radio]], [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1034166 All Things Considered: Kosovo], July 1, 1998</ref>
On the morning of 30 June, the Yugoslav Army (VJ) launched an offensive into the area of Kosovo where the mines were located, and while some militants withdrew, those remaining in the mining buildings opened fire on the local police at around 14:00 in the afternoon.<ref>Hellenic Resources Network, [http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/yds/1998/98-06-30.yds.html Yugoslav Daily Survey], June 30, 1998</ref> Serb government forces, with the help of more than 150 military vehicles including helicopters, tanks and artillery,<ref name="indy">[[The Independent]] [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/new-offensive-dashes-ceasefire-hope-1168593.html New offensive dashes ceasefire hope], June 30, 1998</ref> regained control of the Belaćevac Mine, as most of the Albanian militants had fled after encountering heavy tank-fire.<ref>[[Radio Free Europe]], [http://www.friends-partners.org/friends/news/omri/1998/07/980701II.html(opt,mozilla,unix,english,,new) Serbia claims success in Belacevac offensive], June 30, 1998</ref> The region was largely abandoned by both Albanian and Serbian civilians following the re-capture of the mines.<ref>[[National Public Radio]], [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1034166 All Things Considered: Kosovo], July 1, 1998</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
In June 1999, after the Kumanovo Agreement was signed, the Yugoslavs withdrew from the mine, leading to its immediate re-capture by the Albanians.<ref>Hughes, Candice. [[Associated Press]], "KLA captures Mine, Hostages near Pristina", June 13, 1998</ref>
In June 1999, after the Kumanovo Agreement was signed, Serb forces withdrew from the mine, leading to its immediate re-capture by the Albanians.<ref>Hughes, Candice. [[Associated Press]], "KLA captures Mine, Hostages near Pristina", June 13, 1998</ref>


Eleven years after the battle, the ''Association of the Families of Kidnapped and Missing Miners of Belaćevac'' set up a demonstration in the region demanding answers about the fate of the workers captured in the KLA's initial capture of the mine.<ref>Radio Srbija, [http://glassrbije.org/E/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=13&Itemid=26&limit=15&limitstart=105 A gathering in Gracanica in memory of Serbs kidnapped in Kosmet 11 years ago], June 22, 2009</ref>
Eleven years after the battle, the ''Association of the Families of Kidnapped and Missing Miners of Belaćevac'' set up a demonstration in the region demanding answers about the fate of the workers captured in the KLA's initial capture of the mine.<ref>Radio Srbija, [http://glassrbije.org/E/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=13&Itemid=26&limit=15&limitstart=105 A gathering in Gracanica in memory of Serbs kidnapped in Kosmet 11 years ago], June 22, 2009</ref>

Revision as of 23:09, 22 April 2013

Battle of Belaćevac Mine
Part of Kosovo War
Date23 June 1998 – 30 June 1998
Location
Belaćevac, near Obilić
Result Serb victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Kosovo Liberation Army Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Commanders and leaders
Bekim Berisha Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Svetozar Marjanović
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
3 killed
7 wounded[3]		 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Unknown
25 Serbian civilians killed,[4] including 9 mineworkers executed by the KLA[5]
4 Kosovo Albanian civilians killed[6][7] and 8,000 Kosovo Albanians made refugees[8]

The Battle of Belaćevac Mine (Template:Lang-sr; Albanian: Beteja e Bardhit të Madh) was a 1998 battle that was fought during the Kosovo War between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the Army of Serbia and Montenegro over the control of a coal mine which powered the nearby generating station which supplied electricity to most of the province of Kosovo.[9]

KLA capture

On 23 June, Albanian militants of the Kosovo Liberation Army seized the mine from the Yugoslavs, capturing nine mineworkers: Dušan Ađančić, Pero Ađančić, Zoran Ađančić, Mirko Buha, Filip Gojković, Božidar Lempić, Srboljub Savić, Mirko Trifunović and Dragan Vukmirović.[10] While one worker, Nebojša Janković, claimed the prisoners had been executed, there was no independent verification.[5] Among the insurgents were Mensur Kasumi, who was later appointed the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs within Kosovo, Arif "Mujo" Krasniqi, who was involved in the capture of Jarko Spasić on 14 May, and Azem Koskoviku, who commanded a group of heavily armed KLA militants. The KLA then proceeded to use the mine as a staging area for its operations,[10] and taunted the Yugoslavs by sending daylight patrols within sight of the nearby villages.[9]

Yugoslav re-capture

On the morning of 30 June, the Yugoslav Army (VJ) launched an offensive into the area of Kosovo where the mines were located, and while some militants withdrew, those remaining in the mining buildings opened fire on the local police at around 14:00 in the afternoon.[11] Serb government forces, with the help of more than 150 military vehicles including helicopters, tanks and artillery,[9] regained control of the Belaćevac Mine, as most of the Albanian militants had fled after encountering heavy tank-fire.[12] The region was largely abandoned by both Albanian and Serbian civilians following the re-capture of the mines.[13]

Aftermath

In June 1999, after the Kumanovo Agreement was signed, Serb forces withdrew from the mine, leading to its immediate re-capture by the Albanians.[14]

Eleven years after the battle, the Association of the Families of Kidnapped and Missing Miners of Belaćevac set up a demonstration in the region demanding answers about the fate of the workers captured in the KLA's initial capture of the mine.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Serbs re-take Kosovo mine". BBC. 1 July 1998. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Serbian Forces Retake Mine Held by Rebels". New York Times. 2 July 1998. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Serbia Claims Success in Belaćevac Offensive". Radio Free Europe. 30 June 1998. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Sutra počinje ekshumacija masovne grobnice Belaćevac". Blic Online. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b Walker, Tom. The Times, "Guerrillas in Kosovo 'killed mine hostages', July 2, 1998
  6. ^ "Fierce Fighting as Serbs Try to Push Rebels From Kosovo Town". New York Times. 1 July 1998. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  7. ^ "New Serb offensive in Kosovo". BBC. 30 June 1999. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  8. ^ Chris Hedges (30 June 1998). "Serbians Unleash Series of Heavy Attacks Against Albanian Separatists". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  9. ^ a b c The Independent New offensive dashes ceasefire hope, June 30, 1998
  10. ^ a b Human Rights Watch, "Humanitarian Law Violations in Kosovo",1998. p. 81.
  11. ^ Hellenic Resources Network, Yugoslav Daily Survey, June 30, 1998
  12. ^ Radio Free Europe, Serbia claims success in Belacevac offensive, June 30, 1998
  13. ^ National Public Radio, All Things Considered: Kosovo, July 1, 1998
  14. ^ Hughes, Candice. Associated Press, "KLA captures Mine, Hostages near Pristina", June 13, 1998
  15. ^ Radio Srbija, A gathering in Gracanica in memory of Serbs kidnapped in Kosmet 11 years ago, June 22, 2009

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