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Podujevo 1999 – Beyond Reasonable DoubtWe were all in our bare feet because we hadn’t had time to put anythingon. My other sister is paralysed and her daughters dragged her over thesteps into the street. She wasn’t even dressed. As we went through theyard, the young man noticed several cars that belonged to the refugees andsaid, “Just look at that - it’s like a car show.” Apart from one that wouldn’tgo, we didn’t find any of the cars when we came back in June.When we were all out in the street, they lined us up. The young man pulledme out of the line and began giving me a hard time again. He pointed hisgun at me. Then a dog started barking and he asked me why. I didn’t knowwhat to say. As he ill-treated me, another one came up and said to him:“Leave the man alone; stop badgering him.” He let me go then, turned hisgun around and hit me right in the mouth with the butt, splitting my upperand low lips. My legs buckled under me but Nurije held me up. The youngman fired a burst into the air. I remember him very well and I’m sure he’sthe one on trial in Prokuplje. I saw his picture. He held me facing him so Igot a good look at his face. I also remember his smell. I would also recognisethe policeman who told him to leave me alone.We went down the street in a column. Old Ejup and his son Florim werethe last to leave their house. They told us in which direction we were to go.At the gate to the Bogujevci house, I saw them take Selman Gashi out ofthe column.Florim GjataFlorim Gjata (33) and his family were on the third floor of his uncle Isak’shouse when the police came. His father Ejup (70), was wounded on 24March and, when he heard the police, he changed his shirt and put on ajacket to cover up the bloodstains. Ejup and his nephew Naser were shotby soldiers on an intersection in the centre of Podujevo. Naser was killedinstantly and Ejup was hit in the right side of the back and left upper leg.He managed to get away and hide in the house of Rexhep Sekiraqa. Naser’sbody lay in the street for 12 hours until the police allowed Sekiraqa totake it to the Gjata family. They buried Naser in the yard.When I spoke with Florim Gjata in Podujevo, I asked him about the cigarettelighter mentioned by the defendant Cvjetan at his trial in Prokuplje.Florim said the lighter was his uncle Isak’s. He also said there were no Kos-91

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