KOSOVO: JUNIK: VILLAGERS JOIN KLA TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES

(23 Jun 1998) Albanian/Nat
Residents of a village targeted by Serb forces in the troubled province of Kosovo have joined forces with Kosovo Liberation Army soldiers to protect their homes.
The men of Junik, a village a few miles (kilometres) from Kosovo's border with Albania, say they're prepared to die to defend their homes and win Kosovo's freedom from Serbia.
Junik has so far held out for 24 days and neither the villagers, nor the rebels know how much longer the fighting will last.
Dashing for cover as Serb forces launch yet another assault, the men of Junik don't know just how much longer they can hold out.
For weeks, Serbs trying to wipe out the Kosovo Liberation Army have targeted villages along Kosovo's border with Albania.
Junik is a mere five miles (eight kilometres) from the border -- the nearest Serb police checkpoint is just a half-mile (800 metres) down the road.
Serb forces positioned on the surrounding high ground have opened fire almost every day since the first attack on May 29, killing five villagers and wounding at least 10.
But they haven't moved in -- the road is blocked by barricades and the village is guarded by fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army -- or K-L-A.
Junik is one of the biggest villages still controlled by the rebels.
The Serb aim is to seal off the secessionist province and prevent an influx of new arms
and fighters.
One of the biggest villages still controlled by the K-L-A along the border, Junik is fighting back with everything it's got, determined to keep its border open.
None of the men in Junik relished the fighting that broke out here on Monday .
It begun mid afternoon and lasted some 90 minutes.
One K-L-A fighter says his comrades -- and the villagers -- have no choice but to protect themselves.
SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"UCK (KLA) is not attacking them (Serbs) they are defending their country and houses but when the Serbs attack us we have to defend ourselves and the world should put up more pressure to stop Milosevic attacking us."
SUPER CAPTION: Lume Hagjie, KLA fighter
Most of the town's women, children and elderly have fled, some to Albania, some to safer villages.
Commanders say a third group of about a thousand is trapped in the hills, surrounded by Serbs and unable to cross the border.

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