Aziz Kelmendi
Encyclopedia
Aziz Kelmendi was a Faculty of Law regular student at the University of Priština. An ethnic Albanian
, he had been serving as a Yugoslav People's Army
soldier
. On September 3, 1987, Kelmendi armed himself with an automatic rifle
, and in what would become known as the Paraćin massacre
, he shot dead four persons: two Bosniaks
; Safet Dudaković and Hazim Dženanović; one Croat
, Goran Begić; and one Serb, Srđan Simić. He also wounded five other persons. All of this happened at the military
barracks
"Branko Krsmanović", in the town of Paraćin, Serbia
. The main witness
of the massacre was Rizo Alibašić. Following this, he ran away from military casern on the Karađorđevo hill, where he was eventually surrounded. He then committed suicide
.
. In 1984. At the Faculty of Law at the University of Priština, he completed two semesters and passed six examinations with solid grades. After the completion of military drill in MP5300 Leskovac
, Serbia, he was moved to MP7518 in Paraćin. The military police
investigation reported no kind of serious conflict
with other soldiers, however he was accused for thievery
. At the time when massacre happened, he was serving the last month of his military service
.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, he had been serving as a Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
. On September 3, 1987, Kelmendi armed himself with an automatic rifle
Automatic rifle
Automatic rifle is a term generally used to describe a semi-automatic rifle chambered for a rifle cartridge, capable of delivering both semi- and full automatic fire...
, and in what would become known as the Paraćin massacre
Paracin massacre
The Paraćin massacre was the murder of 4 people and injury of 5, in the military barracks in Paraćin, Yugoslavia on September 3, 1987 by Aziz Kelmendi, a 19-year old Kosovo Albanian, who was a conscript in the Yugoslav People's Army. Kelmendi shot an AK-47 in two sleeping rooms, then fled and...
, he shot dead four persons: two Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
; Safet Dudaković and Hazim Dženanović; one Croat
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
, Goran Begić; and one Serb, Srđan Simić. He also wounded five other persons. All of this happened at the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
"Branko Krsmanović", in the town of Paraćin, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. The main witness
Witness
A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about an event, or in the criminal justice systems usually a crime, through his or her senses and can help certify important considerations about the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event first hand is known as an eyewitness...
of the massacre was Rizo Alibašić. Following this, he ran away from military casern on the Karađorđevo hill, where he was eventually surrounded. He then committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
.
Biography
Kelmendi was born in Lipljan, but he completed the school in PrizrenPrizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
. In 1984. At the Faculty of Law at the University of Priština, he completed two semesters and passed six examinations with solid grades. After the completion of military drill in MP5300 Leskovac
Leskovac
Leskovac is a city and municipality in southern Serbia. It is the administrative center of the Jablanica District of Serbia...
, Serbia, he was moved to MP7518 in Paraćin. The military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
investigation reported no kind of serious conflict
Workplace conflict
Workplace conflict is a specific type of conflict that occurs in workplaces. The conflicts that arise in workplaces may be shaped by the unique aspects of this environment, including the long hours many people spend at their workplace, the hierarchical structure of the organization, and the...
with other soldiers, however he was accused for thievery
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
. At the time when massacre happened, he was serving the last month of his military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
.