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Podujevo 1999 – Beyond Reasonable DoubtEXAMINATION OF WITNESS FLORIM GJATAThe witness FLORIM GJATA from Priština; 34 years old; salesman by profession;employed; did not know the defendant before; not related to him;advised, stated that his mother tongue is Albanian, but he speaks Serbianvery well, so he will give his evidence in Serbian language:“On 24 March 1999, I went out of my house, which is located in Podujevoon 179 Ibrahim Degol Street (at the time it was Kosovometohijska Street).We were scared because we heard that the paramilitary soldiers were coming,so we went out. We thought that we might be safer in the centre ofthe town. So, I went with my family to my uncle Isak Gjata’s house on 174Kosančić Ivan Street, I think that was the name of the street at the time.There were a lot of our relatives in this house. My father’s cousin and hiscousins from the Dubnica village occupied one floor. There was anotherhouse in the same yard and it was Uncle Sabit Gjata’s house. Rexhep Kastratilives in the same house. They were all with their families in these houses.Around 08:00 on 28 March our cousin Beitush Gjata came and told us thatwe were all supposed to leave the houses because the paramilitaries toldhim so. The paramilitaries already went to my uncles’ houses in the sameyard and told them to leave. So, they all left. So, my cousin Beitush Gjatacame to us and said that we were all supposed to leave. My wife packedthe bags immediately, took two of our children, and left. I stayed with myparents. My father was previously wounded and that day he wore a newshirt. My father and mother left the house first. I followed them with myone-year-old son. When we were on the stairs I saw two men in uniform.They were already on the stairs. One of them spoke to my father and askedhim if he was wounded. My father told him that he was not wounded, butsick and he opened the coat he was wearing and said he was sick. They lethim go immediately. So, my father and mother descended the stairs andleft. The two of them wore the same camouflage uniform. One of them wasbald. The other one wore a black bandana.The one who was bald spoke to my father and when I came carrying ababy, he said, ‘Come here, we are waiting for you’. I carried a baby and he171