In the period from 11 to 22 July 1998, more than 100 Serbs and Roma, mostly civilians were kidnapped in Orahovac municipality and taken to the KLA prison camps, while seven persons were murdered during the attack. The entire Serb population was expelled from the villages of Retimlje, Opterusa, and Zociste, the Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons in Kosovo said in a press statement.
The Association also recalled that on 22 July 1998, following action of the International Red Cross Committee delegation a group of 35 civilians captured in the Monastery of Zociste was released. The group included women, two ill men from the villages of Retimlje and Opterusa, monks from the Monastery of Zociste and elderly persons from Zociste village. Number of captured civilians were released by the will of the so-called KLA commanders. The Association underlined that thanking to the released civilians there are witnesses who provided details on the tragic events that happened.
The statement further said the kidnapping and killing of Serb and Roma civilians in Orahovac continued after the arrival of international forces in Kosovo and Metohija, and recalled that remains of 36 persons kidnapped in July 1998 were identified in massive graves in Malisevo and Volujak in 2005, while mortal remains of some of the kidnapped persons in the period from 1999 to 2000 were found in different locations and handed over to the families.
The Association also announced a number of commemorative activities dedicated to the victims, including a ceremony in Saint Jovan Church in Velika Hoca village, next to the monument dedicated to 84 killed Serbs from Orahovac municipality at 11:00 on 18 July, Serbian media reported.
