KLA called Rugova divisive, following the decision to hold shameful elections in wartime

On March 28, 1998, several families were massacred in Licoshan, just where the first resistance of the Kosovo Liberation Army began.

After that, in March, there is the war between Serbian forces and the Yashari family in Prekaz.

But what was happening in another part of Kosovo, just a month later?

Elections were organized.

In the quality of Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova on December 23rd 1997, the announcement of the new elections <x0-parliamentary and presidential” for March 22, 1998, which according to the CEC was held in 29 constituencies, to be elected president and 130 MPs, 100 out of whom go to direct elections, while 30 other countries are distributed according to the proportion.

These elections had been vocally opposed by the Kosovo Liberation Army, which was calling the position of the late Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova.

Periscopi has secured from the archives a KLA communique, in which the reasons for the opposition to holding these shameful elections were listed.

Ibrahim Rugova's “position that elections should be postponed in Drenica is considered divisive, since the state of emergency is throughout Kosovo” said in the then KLA communique.

In addition, “against KLA calls to legal political subjects and their leaders, to cross to the side of the liberation war, they failed to act on the call but announced parliamentary elections on March 22nd, 1998”.

Central Headquarters The KLA considered Ibrahim Rugova's “divided “the position of Ibrahim Rugova for delaying the elections in Drenica, since it continues in communique, “the state of emergency is throughout Kosovo”.

The KLA, based on the “created combat status”, had called for the annulment of the warned elections, urging people to boycott them, and to join the KLA ranks.

“The KLA accepts elections only after the country's liberation of”, says at the end of the Kosovo Liberation Army's No.46 communiqué.

According to the CEC, ten political parties -- three associations -- the Association of Independent Lawyers, the Kosovo Green Movement and the League of Citizens of Kosovo -- and three independent candidates for MPs, two from Decani and one from Dragashi -- had participated in that election.

On March 19, 1998, Ibrahim Rugova appealed to the people to come out Masovically in parliamentary and presidential elections on 22 March.

Ibrahim Rugova's appeal said:

Dear citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. The March 22nd Parliamentary and presidential elections in the Republic of Kosovo are of particular historical, national and state importance. With these elections, the democratic order in Kosovo is held and strengthened, affirming the citizens' free vote. With these elections strengthened the legitimacy of Kosovo leadership and institutions, greater opportunities for building society and civil state are created. With these elections, Kosovo's ties with its many world friends are strengthened, especially with the US and the European Union. In the quality of the head of the Republic of Kosovo, I invite all citizens to the polls. From republican and local institutions, I request that proper preparations be made for the successful implementation of the March 22nd elections. It invites citizens to vote for parliamentary and presidential candidates of political subjects participating in the elections, especially the LDK, and other parties that have worked on building Kosovo's state and independence”, former President Rugova said.

The chairman of the Central Commission's 22 March 1998 presidential and parliamentary elections was appointed Judge Tadej Rodiqi./Periscopi