Prekaz i Epërm
Prekaz i Epërm
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|---|---|
Village | |
  Prekaz i Epërm | |
| Coordinates: 42°46′56″N 20°49′44″E / 42.782274°N 20.828980°E | |
| Location |  Kosovo |
| District | Mitrovica |
| Municipality | Skenderaj |
| Elevation | 674 m (2,211 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 2,126 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Prekaz i Epërm (Albanian definite form: Prekazi i Epërm; Serbian Cyrillic: Горње Преказе/Gornje Prekaze) is a village in Skenderaj municipality, Kosovo. This village was the site of the battle that started the Kosovo War, the Battle of Prekaz and birthplace of KLA leader Adem Jashari and his brother, Hamëz Jashari.
History
During the 20th century, the village of Prekaz played a role in many events in local history, including being the site of several attacks and battles. In 1913, during the Second Balkan War, a group of Serbian soldiers entered the village, ransacking it as well as assaulting the local population. However, they would be attacked by a group of 3 Albanian irregulars led by Ahmet Delia who, wielding an axe, killed all but one of the soldiers; Ahmet later died of his wounds as a result of the incident.[2]
The village also played an important role during the Drenica uprising of 1945 where clashes broke out in the village, resulting in its annexation by Albanian insurgents.[3]
The home of the Meha family in the village was surrounded in 1981 during the 1981 protests in Kosovo after Tahir Meha fired upon Yugoslav police in Srbica. Yugoslav forces would attack the Meha household, which was protected by Tahir and his father Nebih, leading to fierce fighting breaking out. Despite destroying a Yugoslav tank with a hand grenade, the two insurgents would be killed and their house would be destroyed.[4]
Kosovo War
The village would mark one of the founding locations of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), with its two generals, Adem and Hamëz Jashari being from the village. A convoy of Yugoslav troops unsuccessfully attempt to besieged the Jashari family in 1991 during the Prewar period.[5]
Yugoslav forces would attempt once again to attack Prekaz in 1998 during 22-23 January 1998, however they would once again be forced to retreat by the KLA, despite the absence of Adem Jashari.[6]
In March 1998, Yugoslav forces would attacked Prekaz for a third time after a police station was allegedly attacked by KLA militants. The attack would be a Yugoslav success, leading to the deaths of all 22 militants present there, including Adem Jashari.[7]
Later in the same month Yugoslav forces would ambush KLA general Ilir Lushtaku near Prekaz killing him.[8]
Some Albanian sources also mention a battle in Prekaz on 29 March 1999, when the Yugoslav forces re-entered the village to raid however they would be pushed back by Albanian forces.[9]
Tourism
The most visited location in Prekaz is the Adem Jashari Memorial Complex. A cultural heritage site which consists of the graves of the Jashari family, the destroyed Jashari house, a statue of Adem Jashari and a museum. The location holds a special cultural festival that happends during the anniversary of the Attack on Prekaz each year, called "Night of the flames".[10]
Notable people
- Adem Jashari- general and "father" of the KLA.
- Hamëz Jashari- KLA general and brother of Adem Jashari.
- Shaban Jashari- KLA general and father of Hamëz and Adem Jashari.
- Tahir Meha- Albanian irregular known for attacking Yugoslav police in 1981.
- Nebih Meha- Father of Tahir Meha.
- Ahmet Delia- Albanian freedom fighter known for attacking Serbian soldiers while armed with an axe in 1913.
- Bekim Jashari- Albanian politician and former mayor of Skenderaj.
References
- ^ "Ethnic composition of Kosovo 2011". pop-stat.mashke.org.
- ^ Bislimi, Mehmet. "Ahmet Delia". www.sa-kra.ch. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
- ^ Vukadinović, Igor (2019). "The uprising of Šaban Poluža in Drenica in 1945". Bastina: 291–292. doi:10.5937/bastina1949291V.
- ^ Lajmi, Lajmi. "The Life of Tahir Meha". Lajme Nacional. Lajmi. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ Enigma e një vrasje të trefishtë (in Albanian). p. 30.
Këtu do të bënte përjashtim figura mitike e Adem Jasharit, i cili, në rrethimin e parë që i ishte bërë shtëpisë së tij, më 30 dhjetor 1991, do sillte edhe humbjen e parë të forcave ushtarake serbe.
- ^ Elsie, Robert (2011). Historical Dictionary of Kosovo. Scarecrow Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780810874831.
- ^ Glenny, Misha (2012). The Balkans: Nationalism, War, and the Great Powers, 1804–2011. New York City: Penguin. p. 655. ISBN 978-0-14242-256-4.
On Thursday 5 March 1998, a large force of Serbian police launched an offensive in Drenica, killing 22 Albanian fighters and triggering a flight of the civilian population towards Vučitrn.
- ^ "25 vite nga rënia e dëshmorit Ilir Lushtaku". drenicasot.net.
- ^ Avdyl, Kodra (29 March 2019). "Avdyl Kodra: Beteja e 29 Marsit e vitit 1999 në Prekaz". radiokosovaelire.com.
- ^ "Komuna e Skenderajit". Municipality of Skenderaj. December 24, 2013. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2020.