Agim Ramadani[a] (3 May 1963 – 11 April 1999) also known with nickname "KATANA", was an Albanian commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic Albanian paramilitary organization that sought the independence of Kosovo from Serbia. He was killed in action during the Battle of Košare. After the war, he was declared Hero of Kosovo.
Agim Ramadani | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Agim Ramadani in Zhegër, Kosovo | |
| Nickname(s) | "KATANA" |
| Born | 3 May 1963 Zhegër, Gjilan, AP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Died | 11 April 1999 (aged 35) Koshare, Gjakova, Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Rank | Military Commander |
| Unit | 138th Brigade |
| Commands |  Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) |
| Battles / wars | Kosovo War |
| Awards | Hero of Kosovo (posthumously)[1] |
Biography
editAgim Ramadani was born on 3 May 1963 in the village of Zhegër located in the Karadak Highlands in the municipality of Gjilan in AP Kosovo.[2] His family originally hails from Depce near Preševo and belongs to the Berisha tribe.[3] He studied at the higher technical school in Gnjilane in 1980, and the Military Academy for communications in Zagreb, SR Croatia.[2]
In 1998 Ramadani left Switzerland, where his wife and three children lived,[4] and joined the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).[5] He died at the Battle of Košare.
Kosovo War
editEarly stage
editOn the outbreak of the Kosovo War, Ramadani joined the Kosovo Liberation Army, where he immediately became a commander in the Operational Zone of Dukagjin.[2]
Battle of Gjocaj and Jasiq
editOn 28 July 1998 Ramadani came to reinforce the defense of the villages Gjocaj and Jasiq. Yugoslav troops attacked the villages from the military outpost of Kosharë to take the two strategic points. The attack failed, resulting in three VJ soldiers as well as a VJ Major killed, while the KLA under Ramadani's command suffered three casualties.[6][better source needed]
Battle of Opljaz
editOn 9 August 1998 in the village of Oplazë (Serbian: Опљаз, romanized: Opljaz), forces under Ramadani's command successfully defeated Yugoslav forces killing 17–20 Soldiers as well as two Army officers.[2][7]
Operation Eagle
editOn 15 August 1998 Ramadani initiated "Operation Eagle," which involved attacking the Zhillovic police station.[6]
Gjeravica Raid
editAgim Ramadani’s next operation against Yugoslav forces happened on a Yugoslav Military Outpost and Watchtower near the Gjeravica Mountain on 15 September 1998.[2][7] 40 Serbian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded[8][9]
Operation Fenix
editIn his next Operation codenamed "Operation Fenix" on 30 September 1998 he attacked Yugoslav Army positions near the Košare Military Base. Again the Operation ended with an victory for Ramadani's brigade, killing 6 Yugoslav soldiers, wounding another 6, destroying 1 Tank and 1 APC.[10]
Battle of Košare
editOn 9 April 1999 Ramadani, together with 136 Soldiers under his command crossed the Albanian-Yugoslav border near Košare and attacked Yugoslav Forces numbering 300 Soldiers, starting the bloodiest Battle in the entire Kosovo War.[11] The fighting on the first day lasted 24 hours and ended with a victory for Ramadani's forces, forcing the Yugoslav soldiers to retreat to the Košare base, the heavy fighting left 4 KLA soldiers and 23 Yugoslav soldiers dead.[12]
Death
editThe death of Agim Ramadani has been a source of speculation.[13] The account of his death reported by the KLA was that he had been killed in surprise attack by Serbian forces during the battle of Košare. American journalist James Ridgeway speculates that his death was connected to a string of assassinations of prominent KLA and FARK leaders that link to Hashim Thaçi.[14] Isni Berisha, a former KLA soldier who witnessed Ramadani's death said he was killed in a surprise attack by Serbs.[15]
Legacy
editAgim is regarded an Albanian hero.[16] A main street in Pristina is named after him.[17]
Notes
edit- ^ Serbian Cyrillic: Агим Рамадани
References
edit- ^ "Zyra e Kryeministrit të Kosovës".
- ^ a b c d e Qeriqi, Zamir (11 April 2022). "Agim Hysni Ramadani (3.5.1963 – 11.4.1999)". Radio Kosova e Lirë. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "Порекло презимена, село Депце (Прешево) – Порекло". www.poreklo.rs (in Serbian). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ albanian history Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Agim Ramadani Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana". Bota Sot. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ a b "The Albanian criminal Agim Ramadani (1963-1999) - www.zlocininadsrbima.com". www.zlocininadsrbima.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ infokus (9 April 2020). "Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana". Infokus. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "The Albanian criminal Agim Ramadani (1963-1999) - www.zlocininadsrbima.com". www.zlocininadsrbima.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Nikolic, Petrit Çollaku, Ivana (16 February 2016). "Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas Await Yugoslav Army Ambush Verdict". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Rrëfimi për Kosharen". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 9 April 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Demaj, Florim. Me UÇK-në në Koshare : nga vija e parë të frontit dhe nëpër Kosovën e pasluftës (in Albanian). pp. 79–80.
Rezultati i gjashtë orë luftimeve ishte nga ana jonë katër të vrarë e një të plagosur, kurse nga radhët e armikut kishte 23 të vrarë
- ^ "Misteri i vrasjes së Agim Ramadanit!". Bota Sot (in Albanian). Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ Udovicki, Jasminka; Ridgeway, James (31 October 2000). Burn This House: The Making and Unmaking of Yugoslavia. Duke University Press. p. 329. ISBN 978-0-8223-8091-7.
- ^ "Si u vra Agim Ramadani? Rrëfen për herë të parë ish-ushtari që e pa komandantin kur ra në tokë".
- ^ The exhibit of a hero, Berisha: Agim Ramadani, an eminent patriot, AS TV, 14 November 2012, archived from the original on 10 November 2013, retrieved 9 November 2013
- ^ Të premten mbyllet pjesërisht për qarkullim rruga "Agim Ramadani" ["Agim Ramadani" street will be partly closed for circulation on Friday] (in Albanian), Municipality of Prishtina, 25 September 2013, archived from the original on 22 February 2016, retrieved 7 October 2013
Sources
edit- John Oppenheim; Willem-Jan van der Wolf; Global Law Association (1997). Global war crimes tribunal collection. Global Law Association.